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THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


PRESENTED  BY 

F.   Carlyle  Shepard 


-  7  '? 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/mothertruthsmelomill 


MOTHER  TRUTH'S   MELODIES. 


MELODIES. 

Common    Sense   for    Children. 

A    KINDERGARTEN. 

BY 

MRS.    E.    P.    MILLER, 

AUTHOR  OF 

"A    father's    advice,    a    book    for    every    boy,"    and 
"a  mother's  advice,  a  book  for  every  girl." 

with.  300  illustrations. 


NEW     YORK: 

G.    W.    Carleion  &•   Co.,  Publishers, 

LONDON  :     S.  LOW,  SON  &  CO. 
MDCCCLXXIX. 


COPYRIGHT   BY 

G.   W.   CARLETON    &   CO. 
1878. 


Trow's 
Printing  &  Bookbinding  Co., 
205-213  F.ast  12 r A  St., 

NEW  YORK. 


To  all  who  love  the  Children, 

This  book,  INSCRIBED,  I  bring,— 
Thus  reaching  forth  to  draw  you 

"Within  my  charmed  Ring; 
Where  seeds  and  germs  we  '11  nurture 

In  babies,  children,  youth, 
Till  every  plant  shall  blossom, 

And  bear  the  fruits  of  TRUTH. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Since  little  ones  are  geese  no  more, 

But  knowing  have  become, 
It  ill  beseems  that  "  Mother  Goose" 

Should  dwell  in  every  home. 
So  "Mother  Truth"  in  "Melodies" 

For  Babes,  here  lifts  her  voice, 
Assured  that  parents,   children,  all, 

Will  welcome  and  rejoice. 


NOTE 


ET    no  one    suppose    that  the  Author  of  these 
"  Melodies  "  considers  them  poetry.      They   are 
simply   rhymes,    the    jingle    of    which    may    be 
music  in   the   children's   ears,    and   the 
illustrations    a    delight    to    eager    eyes. 
The  Truths  presented,  even  if  not  fully 
understood  at  first,   will  leave  their  im- 
press,   and   in    so   far   as    they   fill    the 
little    minds,  will   keep  out  falsehood   and   false   ideas. 

The  putting  of  facts  in  such  form  as  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  the  little  ones,  and  be  readily  fixed  in  their 
memory,  was  first  suggested  to  the  writer  of  these  rhymes 
by  a  valued  friend,  the  well-known  philanthropist.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  and  her  interest  in  the  "  Melodies " 
is  such  that  she  has  generously  assisted  in  procuring  illus- 
trations for  the   same. 

Thus  "Mother  Truth's  Melodies"  are  introduced  with 
the  hope  that  this  effort  to  entertain  children  with  rhyming 
reason  will  meet  with  the  approval  of  every  lover  of  the 
young  and  of  Truth. 

Mrs.  E.  P.  M. 


PAGE 

Fly  Away,  Mother  Goose, 13 

Toss  the  Baby, 14 

Pat-a-Cake,   Pat-a-Cake, 15 

Hey,  my  Kitten,  my  Kitten, 16 

WlNKUM,    WlNKUM, 1 7 

Baby's  Bell, 18 

Willy-nilly,        ..........  19 

Humpty-dumpty, 20 

Hush-a-bye,                                            1 22 

Don't  make  me  Laugh,   ...                 ....  26 

Bye-baby-bunting, -27 

To  Bed  with  the  Chickens, 28 

Dive  me  Sudar,           29 

Tause  I'm  Tross, 30 

The  New  Book, 32 

Whiskum,  Whiskum, 33 

The  Jack-Horse, 34 

Hi-diddle-diddle,             35 

The  Rain 36 

1* 


io  Contents. 


PAGE 


Feed  the  Birdies, -,7 

Rock-a-bye,      .  ,o 

Little  Bo-peep,   .                                     .         ,         .         .  4? 

Mama,  Panky  me,   .                  46 

Little  Jack  Horner,           .                  ....  48 

Little  Boy  Blue,    .                  4g 

Miss  Velvet-Paws,      .......  r0 

Polly  Hopkins,       ..-,.-.,.  51 

■"■)  B,  C,        .......         .         .  £2 

C-a-t  spells  Cat,    .......  eg 

The  Kitten,         .......  61 

Dolly  Dimple, 64 

If  you  Please,     .........  69 

The  Poor  Little  Chick  a-dees, 70 

Heigh-ho,  Daisies  and  Buttercups,  .  74 

The  Pony, 75 

Fee-fi-fo-fum,       .....  80 

The  Oxen,       .....  88 

The  Broken  Pitcher, Q2 

The  Elephants, 

The  Wind,  the  Fog,  the  Rain,  the  Snow,        ...  94 

Truth> 98 

Hl-DIDDLE,    HO-DIDDLE, IOO 

What  is  the  Axis? I04 

The  Language  Key, io7 

Twinkle,  Twinkle,          , f  103 

Old  Sol  in  a  Jingle, iIO 

"Robert  of  Lincoln," jj, 

l.impy-dimpy-dingle,     .  tta 

'                                                     •  II4 

The  Rattle  of  the  Bones,             ....  n6 


Contents. 


ii 


PAGE 

Wholly  Holey,          ........  121 

The  Breath  o'  Life,       .                  .                  ....  124 

Curious  Trees  :  the  Cow-Tree  ;  the  Sugar-Pine  ;  the  But- 
ter-Tree; the  Bread-fruit  Tree;  the  Clove-Tree,  .  125 

No  Eyes,          .         .         , 130 

The  Mammoth  Cave,    .         .         .         .         .*                .         .  132 

The  Camels, .         .  134 

Key-notes,   , 139 

The  Bears, .  140 

The  Bear  a  Blessing,          ,"...,.  143 

The  Raccoon,           .........  146 

The  Bank-Swallows,           .......  152 

The  Mocking-Bird, 156 

The  busy  Bees, 158 

Honey-Sweet,          .                                     167 

What  they  Say,         >.....  .170 

Britain's  Rulers,             177 

Signs  of  the  Zodiac,    '.                 ......  180 

Little  Mischief,     ....                  ....  183 

Grandma's  Canary,               ....                  .  1S7 

Handsome  Dick, 190 

The  Dinner-Pot,          .                  ......  195 

Dare  to  say  NO, 196 

Ask  Mother,       . .  199 

Tell  Mother, 199 

Don't  tell  a  Lie, 200 

The  Children's  Rail-Road, .  202 

Mabel's  Snow-feathers, 208 

The  Laddie-  and  Lassie-Birds,      ......  212 


ETING, 


MOTHER  TRUTH'S  MELODIES. 


FLYAWAY,  MOTHER  GOOSE. 


Mother  Goose,  Mother 
Goose, 
Fly,  fly  away  ! 
Mother  Truth  's  coming  W 
now, 
Coming  to-day. 
She  '11  tell  us  funny  things, 

But  they  '11  be  true  ; 
She  '11  bring  us  pictures, 
As  many  as  you  ; 

She  '11  sing  us  Melodies  helping  to  show 
How,  to  true  women  and  men,  we  may  grow. 


H 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


TOSS  THE  BABY. 


Toss  the  baby  high  in  air ; 
Catch  him  though  with  special  care, 
Lest  his  little  back  be  strained, 
Lest  his  little  joints  be  sprained, 
Lest  his  bones  be  bent  or  broken, 

Lest  through  life  he  bear 
some  token 
Of    a    careless    toss    or 

fall, 
That  for  sympathy  shall 

call, 
And    that   must    forever 

be 
Painful  to  our  memory. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 


15 


PA  T- A- CAKE,    PA  T-A-  CAKE. 

Pat-A-CAKE,  pat-a-cake, 

Mama's  boy, 
Laughing  and  crowing, 
And  jumping  with  joy  ; 
Roll  it  and  pick  it  and  mark  it  with  B, 
And  toss  in  the  oven  for  Baby  and  me. 


Pat-a-cake,  pat-a-cake, 

Papa's  girl, 
Springing  in  baby-glee, 
Shaking  her  curl  ; 
Roll  it  and  pick  it  and  mark  it  with  G, 
And  toss  in  the  oven  for  Girly  and  me. 


i6 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


HEY,  MY  KITTEN,  MY  KITTEN. 


Hey. 


kitten,  my  kitten, 
kitten,  my  deary  ; 
[ama  should    feed   him    too 
often, 
never  could  be  so  cheery, 
re  we  go  up,  up,  up, 

And  here  we  go 

down,     down, 

\  down-y, 

^     ~  If  we  never  feed 

baby  too  much, 

He  neverwill  give 

us  a  frown-y. 


Hey,  my  kitten,  my  kitten, 

Hey,  my  kitten,  my  deary  ; 
We'll  put  him  to  bed  with  the  birdies, 

And  that  will  make  him  so  cheery  ! 

Here  we  go  up,  up,  up. 
And  here  we  go  down,  down,  down-y ; 
If  we  give  him  nothing  but  smiles, 

He  will  give  us  never  a  frown-y. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


17 


WINKUM,    WINKUM. 


WlNKUM,   <J.&$$Z     winkum,  shut  your  eye, 
Sweet,  my  ^^^  baby,  lullaby  ; 
For  the  dew  is  falling  soft, 
Lights  are  flickering  up  aloft, 
And  the  head-light 's  peeping  over 
Yonder  hill-top  capped  with  clover ; 
Chickens  long  have  gone  to  rest, 
Birds  lie  snug  within  their  nest, 
And  my  birdy  soon  will  be 
Sleeping  with  the  chick-a-dee, 
For  with  only  half  a  try, 
Winkum,  winkum,  shuts  her  eye. 


i8 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


BABY'S  BELL. 


INGLE  !  jingle  !  baby's  bell  ;— 
What  a  tale  its  tongue  might  tell. 
Could  it  speak  it  sure  would  say, 
"  When  the  baby  's  tired  with 

play, 
And  is  getting  cross,  don't  try 

To  jingle  bells,  but  hush-a-bye  ; 

All  so  still,  now  crooning  low, 

Lull-a-bye,  bye-o,  bye-o, — 

Quiet  down  his  quaking  nerves, 

Soothe  him  as  his  state  deserves  ; — 

Passing  hand  from  head  to  feet, 

Sl-o-w-l-y,  softly,  loving,  sweet, 

As  to  smooth  the  feathers  down, 

Rumpled  from  your  birdling's  crown  ; — 


Mother   Trutfis  Melodies. 

See,  he  sleeps,  and  in  his  dream 
Yours  may  hand  of  angel  seem, 
Ravelling  out  the  tangled  ills, 
Knitting  up  with  restful  thrills." 


*9 


WILL  Y-NILL  Y. 


Willy-nilly,  birdy  sings, 

For  he's  running  over 
With  the  music  that  he  flings 

To  his  sweet  bird-lover  ; — 
Willy-nilly,  baby  laughs, 

Gay  and  glad  and  gleeful  ; 
Brimming  over  high  with  health, 

She  is  always  playful. 


20 


Mother   Trut/is  Melodies. 


HUMPTY-D  UMPTY. 


Humpty-dumpty,  hip-o'-to-hop, 
Baby  is  crying,  why  doesn't  he  stop  ? 
What  does  he  cry  for  ?  his  clothing  is  tight ; — 
No  wonder  such  things  make  baby  a  fright. 

Humpty-dumpty,  hip-o'-to-hop, 
Baby  was  crying,  but  now  he  will  stop  ; 
What  did  he  cry  for  ?  his  clothing  was  wet ; — 
No  wonder  such  things  should  make  babies  fret. 


Humpty-dumpty,  hip-o'-to-hop, 
Baby  is  crying,  oh,  when  will  he  stop  ? 
What  does  he  cry  for  ?  his  feet  are  a-cold  ; — 
No  wonder  such  things  should  make  baby  scold. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


21 


Humpty-dumpty,  hip-o'-to-hop, 
Baby  is  crying,  but  soon  he  will  stop  ; 
What  does  he  cry  for  ?  he  had  too  much  food  ; — 
No  baby  in  this  way  can  ever  be  good. 

Humpty-dumpty,  hip-o'-to-hop, 
Baby  is  laughing  and  scarcely  will  stop  ; 
What  does  he  laugh  for  ?  Oh,  when  he  feels  well, 
He  always  is  happy, — 'tis  thus  we  can  tell. 


22 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies, 


HUSH-A-BYE. 

HUSH-A-BYE,  baby, 

On  Grandmother's  lap  ; 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

And  take  a  nice  nap  ; 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

What  is  it  you  say  ? 
Your  "  teeth  are  a-coming," 
You're  "  ten  months  to-day  "  ? 
Well,  babies  must  cry, 
And  Grandmothers  must  try 
To  comfort  and  hush  them,  but  never  forget 
That  little  gums  ache, 
And  little  nerves  quake, 
Till  little  lips  quiver,  and  babies  must  fret. 

Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  cool  his  hot  gums, 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

With  tiny  ice-crumbs  ; 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

We'll  rub  hard  and  long 
With  icy-cold  finger, — 

See  him  list  to  my  song  ! 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 

Ah,  babies  are  sweet 

If  their  wants  we  but  meet, 


So  why  should  we  blame  them  when  fretful  and  cross  ? 

Let  us  find  what  is  wrong, 

And  remove  it  ere  long, 
And  we  '11  see  that  time  thus  spent  is  never  a  loss. 

Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

What  more  can  we  do, 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

That  will  comfort  you  ? 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  lay  you  down  fiat, 
On  your  stomach,  dear  baby, 

On  Grandmother's  lap. 


2  A. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Nor  trot  you  a  mite, 

No  matter  how  slight, 
But,  sure  that  your  clothing  is  all  dry  and  neat, 

We'll  loosen  each  band, 

And  with  soft  and  warm  hand, 
Gently  rub  you  all  over  from  head  to  your  feet. 

Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

We  will  not  forget, 
Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

That  hands  may  be  wet, 


Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

And  soothe  you  sometimes, 
When  dry  hands  won't  do  it, 

Hush,  list  to  my  rhymes  ! 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  25 

And  now  we  '11  not  nurse 

Till  the  nursing  's  a  curse  ; 
Nor  dose  you,  nor  drug  you,  nor  feed  with  sweet-meats  ; 

Nor  to  soothe,  will  we  try, 

With  old  "  Dame  Winslow"  by, 
For  our  hopes  for  the  babies,  she  ever  defeats. 

Hush-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  quiet  his  nerves, 
Hush  a-bye,  baby, 

The  truth  it  deserves — 
Hush-a-bye,  baby — 

Even  here  to  be  known  : 
We  will  quiet  his  nerves 

By  jnst  calming  our  ozvn  I 
And  our  baby  will  feel 
The  sweet  hush  o'er  him  steal, 
That  brings  with  it  soothing  and  comfort  and  rest ; 
And  to  slumber  so  soft, 
,  His  spirit  we'll  waft, 
And  then  lay  him  away  in  his  own  baby  nest. 


H' 


26 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


DON'T  MAKE  ME  LA  UGH. 


Dear  Mama,  I've  been  laughing 

For  Uncle  Ben  and  Pa, 
And  then  for  sister  Lizzie 

I  talked  "  ar-g-o-o  "  and  "  gar  ;  " 
And  then  a  "  little  story  " 

For  Dick  and  Cousin  Jane, — - 
And  now  you,  Mama,  want  me 

To  lauch  and  talk  aeain. 


I'd  like  to  do  it,  Mama,  but  if  I  even  try, 

I  am  so  weary  with  it,  I'm  sure  I'd  only  cry  ! 

Don't  let  them  try,  dear  Mama,  to  make  me  laugh  and 

crow, 
I'll  do  it  when  I'm  able,  for  babies  always  do. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


2/ 


B  YE- BAB  Y-B  UN  TING. 


Bye-baby-bunting, 
The  Indians  live  by  hunting, 
And  bring  home  many  a  beaver- 
To  wrap  the  little  pappoose  in. 

And  mother-squaw  the  baby  '11  tie 
i    Fast  on  a  board,  and  swing-insr 


high, 
Will  hang  it  up  among  the  trees 
rs=a "  To  rock-a-bye  with  every 

breeze  ; 
But  our  dear  baby,  snug 

and  warm, 
1  Shall  rock-a-bye  on  mo- 
ther's arm. 


28 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


TO  BED   WITH  THE  CHICKENS. 


Oh,  put  me  in  my  bed,  Mama, 
When  chickens  go  to  rest, 

For  I'm  your  little  chick-a-dee, 
So  put  me  in  my  nest. 

Yes,  when  the  birds  forget  to  sing, 
And  lambs  forget  to  play, 

You  '11  put  your  birdy  in  his  nest, 
Your  lamb  you  '11  fold  away. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


29 


DIVE  ME  SUDAR, 


Papa,  when  you  dive  me  tandy, 

Dive  me  only  white, — 
'Tause  there  's  poison  in  the  tolored, 

Which  my  health  will  blight ; 
But  you  better  dive  me  sudar, 

Let  the  tandy  be, — 
'Tause  I  shall  not  want  so  much, 

And  that  is  best  for  me. 


;o 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


TAUSE  I'M  TROSS. 


Mama,  'tause  I'm  tross  don't  whip  me  ; 

I  tan't  help  it,  not  a  bit  ! 
Tis  the  tandy  hurts  my  stomat, 

And  that  mates  me  whine  and  fret. 
Sometimes,  too,  I'm  whipped  for  trossness 

When  the  trossness  tomes  from  meat  ; 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

Thint  how  tiders  drowl  and  drumble, 
And  then  dive  me  food  to  eat 


That  will  mate  me  well  and  happy, — 
Wheat  and  oat-meal,  rice  and  fruit, 

These  will  mate  me  dood  and  gentle, 
'Stead  of  mating:  me  a  brute. 


32 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  NEW  BOOK. 


COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO, 
A  picture-book  for  you, — 
Keep  it  nice,  and  in  a  trice, 
Sing  Cock-a-doodle-doo. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


33 


WHISKUM,    WHISKUM. 


WHISKUM,  whiskum,  over  the  house, 
Scud  the  cloudlets,  still  as  a  mouse  ; 
Whiskum,  whiskum,  by-and-by 
They  '11  pour  rain-drops  from  the  sky. 


34 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  JACK-HORSE. 


s^^ 


We  will  ride  our  Jack-horse 
All  the  meadows  across  ; 
Oh  no,  do  not  whip  him, 
But  feed  him,  my  dear  ! 
A  handful  of  grass 
In  his  mouth  as  we  pass, 
Will  make  him  trot  gayly, 
And  give  us  good  cheer  ! 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


35 


HI-DIDDLE-DIDDLE. 


Hl-DIDDLE-DIDDLE, 
Mother  duck  's  in  the  middle, 
Her  baby-ducks  swimming  around  ; 
With  bills  like  a  ladle, 
And  feet  like  a  paddle, 
No  danger  that  they  will  be  drowned. 


36 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  RAIN. 


r 


COME,   rain,  come, 
That  the  water  may  run, 
That  the  meadow  grass  may  grow  ; 
That  the  fruit  and  grain, 
O'er  hill  and  plain, 
May  greet  us  as  we  go. 

Come,  rain,  come, 

That  the  water  may  run, 
That  the  mill  may  make  our  meal ; — 

'Twill  grind  our  wheat, 

And  corn  so  sweet, 
When  it  turns  the  old  mill-wheel". 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


37 


FEED  THE  BIRDIES. 


Feed  the  birdies,  darling, 

When  the  snow  is  here, 
When  there  are  no  berries, 

On  the  bushes,  dear  ; — 
Scatter  food  out  for  them, 

And  they  '11  quickly  come, 
Hopping,  singing,  chirping, 

"  Thank  you  for  the  crumb." 


38 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


ROCK-A-BYE. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock  a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ;- 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Don't  tremble  with  fear, 
For  that  tends  to  make 

His  slight  illness  severe. 


Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ;- 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Don't  coax  him  to  nurse, 
For  urging  to  eat 

Only  makes  matters  worse. 


Mother    Truth  s  Melodies. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ;- 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

No  company  'round, 
Not  even  the  dear  ones, 

To  make  a  loud  sound. 


39 


Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Don't  rattle  the  papers 
Nor  whisper  around, 

Little  nerves  cut  such  capers. 


4-0  Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Whatever  is  wrong, 
Attend  to  his  bowels, 

Neglected  too  long. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

If  he  is  too  hot, 
Undress  him  and  bathe  him  ; 

But,  ah  !  he  is  not. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill  ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

There  is  cough  with  unrest, 
So  we  '11  wring  out  hot  flannels 

And  cover  his  chest. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies.  41. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

He  's  perspiring,  to  pour  ! 
We  will  keep  up  this  treatment 

A  full  hour  or  more. 


Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ;- 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Now  dry  him  off  neat, 
And  wrap  him  up  warm, 

And  to-morrow,  repeat. 


42  Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

'Tis  not  in  his  chest  ? 
Then  place  the  hot  flannels 

Where  he  feels  the  unrest. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well  ;  — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

He  is  moaning  with  pain, 
And  rolling  his  head, 

And  we  pet  him  in  vain. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  bab}', 

We  will  wring  out  from  ice, 
Linen  cloths  for  his  head, 

All  so  cooling  and  nice. 


Mother    Trtitti s  Melodies.  43 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill  ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

If  cold  don't  relieve, 
Use  hot  and  then  cold, 

And  then  hot,  you  perceive. 


Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  is  ill, 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  soon  have  him  well ; — 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

We  '11  see  that  his  feet 
Are  kept  warm  all  the  time, 

And  his  clothes  dry  and  neat. 


44  Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

Our  darling  was  ill ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

But  now  he  is  well  ; 
Rock-a-bye,  baby, 

No  drugs,  not  a  dose  ! 
Yet  he  's  over  it  finely, 

Just  hear  how  he  crows ! 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


45 


LITTLE  BO-PEEP. 


Co'  Nan,  co'  Nan,  says  little  Bo-Peep, 
Co'  Nan,  co'  Nan,  up  come  the  sheep  ; 
They  jump  the  ditch  and  scale  the  wall, 
Where  one  sheep  goes,  they  follow,  all. 

Co'  dea',  co'  dea',  says  little  Bo-peep, 
Co'  dea',  co'  dea',  I  '11  shear  my  sheep  ; 
Their  wool  so  fine  will  make  my  coat, 
My  blankets  and  my  hose  to  boot. 


46 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


MAMA,  PANIC  Y  ME. 


See  the  baby  run  and  tumble 

'Cross  his  mother's  knee, 
While  his  merry  voice  is  shouting, 

"  Mama,  panky  me  !  " 

Hundred  times  he  '11  run  and  tumble 

Thus  in  childish  glee, 
Bursting  forth  in  joyous  laughter, 

"  Mama,  panky  me." 

But  if  she  should  "  pank  "  in  earnest, 

Half  as  hard  as  now, 
Quick  would  come  in  place  of  sunshine, 

Clouds  upon  his  brow. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 


47 


Ves,  if  she  should  "panic"  in  earnest, 

Little  eyes  would  fill, 
Little  lips  would  curl  and  quiver, 

Little  shout  be  still. 


Till  the  little  heart  no  longer 

Could  contain  its  woe, 
Then  burst  forth  in  cries  of  anguish, 

Such  as  babies  know. 


48 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


LITTLE  J  A  CK  HORNER. 


Little  Jack  Horner 
Sat  in  the  corner, 
Eating  a  morsel  of  nice  brown  bread  ; 

"  Have  some  pie,  or  some  cake  "  ? 

"  Nay,  not  I,"  with  a  shake 
And  a  toss  of  his  wise  little  head. 
"  For  this  bread  will  make  bone, 

And  white  teeth  like  a  stone, 
That  will  neither  grow  soft  nor  decay  ; 

But  rich  cake  and  rich  pie 

Sure  will  break,  bye  and  bye, 
My  good  health,  and  that  never  will  pay." 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


49 


LITTLE  BOY  BLUE. 

Boy  Blue,  may  I  go  with  you 
now  ?  " 

down  to  the  pasture  to  drive 
up  the  cow." 

ttle  boy  blue,  what  then  may  I 
have  ?  " 

A  nice  cup  of  milk  as  ever 
cow  gave." 

Little  boy  blue,  the  milk  must  be  set  ;  " 

Yes,  for  'tis  thus  the  nice  cream  we  shall  get." 

Little  boy  blue,  what  will  we  do  then  ?  " 

We  '11  skim  it  and  dash  it,  with  '  churn,  butter,  churn.'  " 

Little  boy  blue,  what  else  can  we  make  ?  " 
O,  cheese,  tempting  cheese,  and  the  dainty  cheese- 
cake." 

Little  boy  blue,  is  there  anything  more  ?  " 

O,  yes,  puddings,  custards,  and  dainties,  a  store." 

Little  boy  blue,  shall  we  eat  of  all  these  ?  " 
Simple  food  is  far  better  for  us,  if  you  please  ?  " 
3 


5Q 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


MISS   VELVET- PAWS. 


Little  Miss  Velvet-paws. 
Ravelling  out  her  yarn, 
Catches  mice,  in  a  trice, 
In  everybody's  barn. 


Look  out  for  velvet  paws, 
Do  not  trust  them  far, 
For  velvet  paws  cover  claws 
That  will  leave  a  scar. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


5i 


POLL  Y  HOPKINS. 


"1  «  — ^  ■  -  m« 

Now  little  Polly  Hopkins 
Must  surely  know  great  A, 
And  B,  and  C,  and  D,  and  E, 

F,  G,  H,  I,  J,  K; 
And  L,  and  M,  and  N,  and  O, 
And  P,  and  Q,  R,  S, 
And  T,  U,  V,  and  W,  X, 

And  Y,  &  Z,  I  guess. 


52 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


^,  B,  O. 


Stands  for 

Alligator, 


Stands  for  Ball, 


Stands  for  Cat  in  a 
cream-pot, 


Stands  for  Doll. 


Mother   Trtitfis  Melodies. 


53 


Stands  for  East,  or 
Ellen, 


Stands  for  Fay, 


Stands  for  Goat,  a  Pen 
in, 


^^S 


Stands  for  Hay. 


Stands  for  Indigestion, 


54 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Stands  for  Jar, 


Stands  for  King,  or 
Keepsake, 


Stands  for  La. 


Stands  for  Man,  or 
Thousand, 


Stands  for  Nail, 


lOOQ 


f^v- 


Mother   Truth ' s  Melodies. 


55 


Stands  for  Oaken 
bucket, 


Stands  for  Pail. 


Stands  for  Queen,  or 
Question, 


Stands  for  Rose, 


Stands  for  Christmas 
Stocking, 


56 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Stands  for  Toes. 


X 


Stands  for  Urn,  or 
Ulster, 


Stands  for  Vane. 


:>< 


Stands  for  West,  or 
Winter, 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


57 


Stands  for  Ten. 


Stands  for  Yoke 
(with  Oxen), 


Stands  for  Zero, 


when  you  've  learned  your  LETTERS, 
You  '11  be  a  Hero. 


58 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


C-A-T  SPELLS  CAT. 


x      C-A-T  spells  Cat, 

That  brought  the  kittens  here  ; 


D-O-G  spells  Dog, 

That  does,  the  puppies,  rear. 


C-O-W,  COW, 
The  mother  of  the  calf 


O-X  spells  the  Ox, 

That's  bigger,  yes,  by  half. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

B-O-Y  spells  Boy, 

That 's  little  brother  Lou  ; 

G-I-R-L,  Girl, 

And  that  is  sister  Sue. 

B-I-R-D,  Bird, 

Just  hear  canary  sing  ; 

G-O-L-D,  Gold, 

That  makes  a  handsome  rinsf. 


B-O-O-K,  Book, 

In  which  we  learn  to  read  ; 


C-O-O-K,  Cook, 

Supplies  the  food  we  need. 


6o 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


S-E-E-D,  Seed, 

From   which   we    raise   the 
plant ; 

S-I-N-G,  Sing, 

Just  hear  the  children  chant. 

B-A,  BA,  B-Y,  BY, 

And  that  spells  Baby,  love; 

L-A,  la,  D-Y,  DY, 

And  that  spells  LADY,  dove. 

M-A,  Ma,  R-Y,  ry, 

And  that  spells  Mary,  child, 

E-D,  Ed,  D-Y,  dy, 

That's   Eddy,  sweet   and 
mild. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


61 


THE  KITTEN. 


One,  two,  (1,  2,) 

Here  's  a  kitten  for  you  ;- 

Three,   four,  (3,  4,) 

She  will  open  the  door,— 


Five,  six,  (5,  6,) 

And  your  cream  she  will  mix, 


62 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Q^finiMl 


Seven,  eight,  (7,  8,) 
If  you  are  too  late, — 

Nine,  ten,  (9, 10,) 
To  cover  the  pan  ; 

Eleven,  twelve,  (11, 12,) 
And  then  you  must  delve,- 

Thirteen,  fourteen,  (13, 14,) 
To  cover  her  sporting  ; 


Fifteen,  sixteen,  (15, 16,) 
But  while  you  are  fixing,- 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


63 


Seventeen,  eighteen,  (17, 18,) 
Remember  I'm  waiting, — 

Nineteen,  twenty,  (19,  20,) 
For  butter,  a  plenty. 


To  those  who  serve  you,  children,  all, 

Be  gentle  and  polite, — 
For  thus  are  gentle-women  known, 

Or  gentle-men,  at  sight. 


64 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


DOLLY  DIMPLE. 


r-v^Sfc**. £^v„ 


Dolly  Dimple,  just  for  fun, 
Stands  to  show  us  she  is  One. 


Dolly  and  her  sister  Sue 

Show  that  One  with  One  make  Two. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Dolly,  Sue,  and  Nanny  Lee 

Show  that  One  with  Two  make  Three. 


65 


Doll,  Sue,  Nan,  and  little  Noah 

Show  that  One  with  Three  make  Four. 


66 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Doll,  Sue,  Nan,  Noah,  and  Ben  Brive 
Show  that  One  with  Four  make  Five. 


Now  all  these  with  Jenny  Hicks 
Show  that  One  with  Five  make  Six. 


Mother   Truth, 's  Melodies. 


67 


One  more,  Ned,  a  baby  even, 

Shows  that  One  with  Six  make  Seven. 


With  these  girls  and  boys,  put  Kate, 
And  the  One  with  Seven  make  Eight. 


68 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


All  these  Eight,  with  Adaline 

Show  that  One  with  Eight  make  Nine. 


Now  with  these  put  Dick,  and  then 

You  '11  see  that  One  with  Nine  make  Ten. 


Mother   Trtdti s  Melodies. 


69 


IF  YOU  PLEASE. 


I  HOPE  my  children  never  will 
Say,  "  Give  me  "  this  or  that, — 

But,  "  If  you  please,"  I'd  like  a  bun, 
Or,  "  Thank  you  "  for  a  pat. 


7o 


Mot  he?'    Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  POOR  LITTLE  CHICK-A-DEES. 


EN  little  chick-a-dees  clinging  to  a  vine, — 
A  speckled  snake  charmed  one,  then  there 
were  but  NINE. 


NINE  little  chick-a-dees, — one  without  a  mate, — 

A  Sparrow-hawk  caught  one,  then  there  were  but  EIGHT. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


71 


Eight  little  chick-a-dees,  by  a  'possum  driven, — 
He  caught  one  and  slaughtered  it,  then  there  were  but 
SEVEN. 


SEVEN  little  chick-a-dees  hopping  round  the  ricks, — 
A  Weasel  came  and  captured  one,  then  there  were  but 

SIX. 


TX  little  chick-a-dees  watching  Rover  dive, — 
le  sprang  ashore  and  seized  one,  then  there  were  but 
FIVE. 


72 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 
'fMyffj 


Five  little  chick-a-dees  pecking  at  the  door, — 
Kitty-cat  caught  one,  then  there  were  but  FOUR. 


Four  little  chick-a-dees  full  of  birdy-glee, — 

One  was  tangled  in  a  net,  then  there  were  but  THREE. 


Three  little  chick-a-dees  dabbling  in  the  dew, — 
A  stone  fell  and  crushed  one,  then  there  were  but 
TWO. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


73 


Two  little  chick-a-dees  peeping  just  for  fun, — 

A  naughty  Kite  nabbed  one,  then  there  was  but  ONE. 


One  little  chick-a-dee,  mourning  all  alone, 

Flew  away  to  find  a  mate,  and  then  there  was  None. 


/  4 


Mother   Truth's  Ale  todies. 


HEIGH-HO,  DAISIES  AND 
BUI TER-  CUPS. 

EIGH-HO,  daisies  and  but- 
ter-cups 
Grow  in  the  meadows  for 
children  to  gather  ; 
But  cattle  will  shun  them, 
And    farmers    will    burn 
them, 
Because  in  their  fields  they 
are  only  a  bother. 

-ho,    red-top    and    clover- 
bloom, 

lg  the  air  with  their  sweet- 
ness and  beauty, 
Will  yield  without  measure, 
Their  wealth  of  rich  treasure, 
lljli  Rewarding  the  farmer  for  doing  his  duty. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


75 


THE  PONY. 


Once  2  is  2, 

Here  's  a  pony  for  you  ; 


Two  2s  are  4, 

But  be  careful  the 
more, — 

Three  2s  are  6, 
For  perhaps  pony 
kicks  ; 


FOUR  2s  are  8, 

And  if  so  we  must  wait,- 


j  6  Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

FIVE  2s  are  10, 

Till  he  's  trained  by  the  men,- 


SlX  2s  are  12, 

Before  trusting  ourselves,- 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Seven  2s  are  14, 

To  ride  him  out  sporting  ; 

Eight  2s  are  16, 

But  we  can  be  fixing — 


77 


Nine  2s  are  18, 

His  food  while  we  're  waiting  ; 

Ten  2s  are  20, 

Oh,  yes,  give  him  plenty, — 

Eleven  2s  are  22, 

For  then  he  will  be  gentle  to— 


78 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Twelve  2s  are  24, 

Us  who  feed  and  pet  him  more. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


79 


So 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


t  -  /  K 


FEE-FI-FO-FUM. 

Fee-fi-fo-fum, 
From    the     Spruce-tree    comes    the 

gum; 
From  the  Pine  the  turpentine, 

Tar  and  pitch, 

And  timber  which 
Is  very  choice  and  fine. 


Fee-fi-fo-fum, 
How    from    Spruce 
tree    comes    the 
gum? 
So  ft  enough  ; — the 
sticky  stuff, 
From    seam    and 

cleft, 
Both  right  and  left, 
Flows  out,  and  hard- 
ens, rough. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

Fay-fi-fo-fee, 
Nut-galls  grow  on  the  Oak-tree  ; 
By  tiny  worms  the  nut-gall  forms, 

Like  little  ball ; 

And  from  Nut-gall 
The  Gallic  Acid  comes. 


Fee-fi-fo-fade, 

From  Nut-galls,  too,  the  Tannin  's  made  ; 

While  Acorns  grow  in  group  or  row ; — 
And  Live-oak  long, 
Makes  ship-knees,  strong, 

That  round  the  world  may  go. 


82 


Mother   Truth's  Ale  todies. 

Fee-fi-fo-fap, 

We  tap  the  Maples,  and  the  sap 


We  find  as  sweet  as  sugar-beet,- 
Then  boiling  hard, 
Our  sure  reward, 

The  maple-sugar  treat. 


Mocker   Truth's  Melodies. 


84  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Fee-fi-fo-fap, 
Hark  and  hear  the  Hemlock  snap  ;- 
Little  spine  so  full  of  wind, 
Heated,  hops, 
And  jumping,  pops, 
And  makes  the  bright  eyes  shine. 


Fee-fi-fo-fur, 
See  the  curious  chestnut-burr  ; 
Green  and  round,  then  turning  brown, 

Frost  opens  wide 

Each  prickly  side 
And  out  the  chestnuts  bound. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Fee  fi-fo-fay, 
Now  the  farmer  makes  his  hay  ; 
Grasses  grow,  which  workmen  mow,- 

Toss  every-wise, 

Till  sunshine  dries, 
Then  into  stacks,  they  stow. 


85 


Fay-fee-fi-fo, 
See  the  farmer  wield  his  hoe, 
Lettuce,  greens,  then  corn  and  beans, 

With  pumpkin-vines 

Along  the  lines, 
Where  many  a  weed  o'er-leans. 


86  Mother   Truth ' s  Melodies. 

Fee  fi-fo-fog, 
See  the  wriggling  pollywog, —  * 


With  funny  tail ;  but  without  fail 

This  pollywog 

Will  grow  a  frog, 
And  lose  his  wiggle-tail. 

Fee-fi-fo-faint, 
Colors,  seven,  the  Rainbow  paint; 
Violet  bright  is  first  in  sight — 

Then  indigo, 

Blue,  green,  yellow, 
Orange  and  red, — the  seven,  White. 


*  Common  name  for  pollywig,  or  tadpole. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


87 


Fay-fee-fi-fo, 
'.  Now  you  ask,  "What  makes 
Rainbow  ?  " 
f|  It  is  the  sun,  my  darling  one, 
Shines  through  the  rain, 
O'er  hill  and  plain, — 
But,  see,  the  beauty  's  flown ! 


Fay-fi-fo-fear, 
Don't  you  understand  it,  dear? 
Raindrops  fall,  Sun  shines  through  all, 

Reflects  beyond, 

This  beauteous  wand 
Which  we,  the  Rainbow,  call. 


Mother   7^rut/is  Melodies. 


THE   OXEN. 

The  oxen  are  such  clever  beasts, 
They  '11  drag  the  plough  all  day  ; 

They  're  very  strong  and  tug  along 
Great  loads  of  wood  or  hay. 


They  feed  on  grass, 
when  green  or 
dry; 


Their  flesh  is  beef,  for  food  ; 
Their    lungs    are     "  lights," 
their  stomach,  "  tripe," 
'jf^m     Their  skin  for  leather  's  good. 

Their  hair  men  use  in  mortar,  too, — 

Lime,  water,  sand,  and  hair, 
They  nicely  mix  and  smoothly  fix, 

For  plastering,  so  fair. 


Mother    Trut/is  Melodies. 


89 


For  making  soap  their  bones  are  used  ; 

Their  horns  for  combs  we  group  ; 
Their  feet  are  boiled  for  "  neat's-foot-oil," 

Their  tails  for  ox-tail  soup. 

Their  heart-case  forms  a  money-bag  ; 

Their  tallow,  candles,  white  ; 
Their  intestine,  gold-beater's  skin, 

With  which  grold-leaf  we  smite. 


Thus  every  part  is  useful  made  ; 

The  same  is  true  of  cows, — 
Except  their  ilk  gives  luscious  milk 

Instead  of  dragging  ploughs. 


90  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Oxen  and  cows  are  "  cattle  "  called  ; 

They  go  in  "  herds,"  when  wild  ; 
But  when  they're  tame,  by  other  name,- 

A  "  drove,"  en  masse,  they  're  styled. 


Their  little  ones  are  "  calves," — and  cows' 

Rich  milk  produces  cream, 
Which  butter  makes,  and  nice  cheese-cakes, 

With  curd,  whey,  and  caseine. 

And  now  'tis  funny,  but  'tis  true, 

Some  children  young  and  mazy, 
Have  thought  their  eyes  were  used  some- wise, 

To  make  the  ox-eyed  daisy  ! 


Mother    1  ruili  s  Melodies. 


91 


This  can  not  be,  yet  creatures'  bones 
Placed  round  trees,  plants,  and  bowers, 

Will  serve  to  feed  just  what  they  need, 
To  erow  fine  fruits  and  flowers. 


92 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  BROKEN  PITCHER. 


"  SWEET,  my  love,  I'm  sorry 
That  you  did  not  tell, 
When  you  broke  the  pitcher 
Coming  from  the  well." 

"  Oh,  I  thought  you  'd  whip  me, 
Just  as  Betty  did  ; 
Then  when  she  would  ask  me, 
I  would  tell  a  fib." 

"  Sweet,  my  child,  I  never 
Punish  any  one 
f ,     For  an  accidental 

Thing  that  may  be  done. 


"  Tell  me  always,  darling, 
Everything  you  do ; 
This  will  help  to  make  you 

Thoughtful,  brave,  and  true." 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


93 


THE  ELEPHANTS. 


THE  ivory  for  our  combs, 

From  elephants'  tusks  is  made  ; 
The  handles,  too,  for  many  a  knife, 

And  for  paper-knives,  the  blade, 


The  elephant  knows  a  friend, — 
And  well  remembers,  too, 

A  kindly  act, — but  ne'er  forgets 
The  teasing  of  a  foe. 


94 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  WIND. 


HAT  is  the  wind,  Mam- 
ma "  ? 
"  'Tis    air    in    motion, 
child  ;  " 
"  Why  can  I   never  see 
the  wind 
That  blows  so  fierce 
and  wild  ?  " 
'  Because  the  Gases,  dear, 
Of  which  the  air  is  made, 
Are  quite  transparent,  that  is,  we 
See  through,  but  see  no  shade." 


ND  what  are  Gases.  Ma  ?  " 

"  Fluids,  which,  if  we  squeeze 
In    space    too    small,  will    burst    with 
force  ;  " — 
"And  what  are  fluids,  please?" 
"  Fluids  are  what  will  flow, — 

And  gases  are  so  light 
That  when  we  give  them  room  enough, 
They  rush  with  eager  flight." 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


95 


HAT  gases,  dear  Mamma, 

Make  up  the  air  or  wind  ?  " 
"  'Tis  Oxygen  and  Nitrogen 

That  chiefly  there  we  find  ; 
And  when  the  air  is  full 

Of  Oxygen  we  're  gay, 
But  when  there  is  not  quite  enough, 
We  're  dull  or  faint  away." 


THE  FOG. 

HAT  is  the  Fog,  Mamma?  " 

"  Sometimes  the  air  is  light 

And  cannot  bear  up  all  the  mists, 
And  then  'tis  foggy,  quite  ; 


But  when  air  heavier  grows, 
The  fog  is  borne  above, 
And  floated  off,  the  cloudy  stuff, — 
Just  see  it,  graceful,  move." 


96 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 


THE    RAIN. 


U  HAT  makes  the  rain,  Mamma  ?  " 
"  The  mists  and  vapors  rise 
From  land  and  stream  and  roll- 


ing sea, 


Up    toward    the     distant 
v  skies  ; 

And  there  they  form  the  clouds, 

Which,  when  they  're  watery,  dear, 
Pour  all  the  water  down  to  earth, 
And  rain  afar  or  near." 

THE  SNOW. 

HAT   makes  the  Snow,  Mam- 
ma ?  " 


"  When  very  cold 
above, 

The  mists  are  frozen  high  in  air, 
And  fall  as  snow,  my  love." 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

"  And  Hail  ?  "    *"Tis  formed  the  same 
Cold  streams  of  air  have  come 
And  frozen  all  the  water-drops, 
And  thus  the  hail-stones  form. 


97 


OW  do  not  question  more, 

Dear  child,  but  run,  and  play, — 
I  '11  tell  you  of  the  Water,  Fire, 
And  Light,  another  day." 
"  Oh  yes,  and,  dear  Mamma, 

Of  Thunder,  Lightning,  too, 
For  I  shall  want  to  know  it  all, 
So  tell  me,  Mama,  do." 


98  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

TRUTH. 

Do  not  let  "  Mother  Truth  "  find  a  falsehood  all  over, — 
Amongst  all  her  children,  no,  never  a  lie  ; 

Stand  for  Truth,  ye  wee  babies,  for  Truth,  ye  who  're 
older, 
For  Truth  while  you  live,  and  for  Truth  till  you  die. 

All  ye  myriads  of  children  this  little  book  talks  to, 
Form  now  in  each  household  a  band  for  the  Truth  ; 

Do  not  let  even  a  "  white  lie,"  and  still  less  a  "  whopper," 
Find  a  place  in  your  hearts,  nor  your  heads,  nor  your 
mouth. 

You  know  God  is  Truth  ; — and  as  you  are  His  children, 
You  want  to  be  like  Him  as  near  as  you  can  ; 

Speak  the  Truth,  live  the  Truth,  be  the  Truth  with  Him, 
And  Heaven  will  have  come,  as  Christ  taught  in  his 
plan. 


IOO 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


HI-DIDDLE,  BO-DIDDLE. 


Hl-DIDDLE,    HO-DIDDLE, 

Pop-diddle-dee, 
This  Earth  of  ours,  on  which  we  live, 
Is  round  as  it  can  be. 

Pray,  then,  what  is  a 

Mountain,  valley,  hill  ? 
They  are  but  like  little  warts, 
And  pores,  on  orange-peel. 


Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, — 
Our  Earth  is  swinging  in  the  air, 
As  you  can  plainly  see  ; — 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 


101 


Pray,  then,  what  keeps  it 

Hanging  up  in  space  ? 
The  Sun,  my  child,  attracts  the  Earth 
And  holds  it  in  its  place. 


Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, — 
A  lovely  Moon  is  shining  for 
This  Earth  of  ours,  you  see, — 

Held  in  its  cradle 

Ever  since  its  birth, 
Because  our  globe  attracted  it, 
As  the  Sun  attracts  the  Earth. 

Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, 
What  I  mean  by  globe,  child, 
You  're  wondering  now,  I  see. 


102  Mother   Truth7 s  Melodies. 

A  globe  or  a  ball,  dear, 

Is  what  is  round  and  true, 
And  that  is  why  I'm  calling  it, — 
This  Earth, — a  globe,  to  you. 

Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, 
Instead  of  globe  I  might  have  said 
A  spJiere  for  you  and  me  ; 

For  all  the  same,  in  truth, 

Are  sphere  and  globe  and  ball, 
And  liemi  's  half — so  half  this  Earth, 
A  hemisphere,  we  call. 

Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, 
'T  was  once  supposed  the  Earth  stood  still, 
While  Sun  went  round  it,  free  ; — 

But  now  we've  learned  it  well, 

That  't  is  the  earth  doth  turn 
Upon  its  Axis,  as  it  's  called  ; 
And  also  round  the  Sun. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


i  o.i 


Hi-diddle,  ho-diddle, 

Pop-diddle-dee, 
Our  Earth,  in  turning  round, 
How  long  may  she  be  ? 


She  turns  on  her  axis 
In  a  day  and  a  night, 
But  to  go  around  the  Sun 
Takes  a  year  for  the  flight. 


io4 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


WHA  T  IS  THE  AXIS  ? 


Now  you  ask  "  What  is  the  Axis  ?  " 

With  an  apple  I  will  show  ; 
Place  your  thumb  upon  the  stem-place, 

And  your  finger  at  the  blow  ;— 
Now  we  '11  just  suppose  the  apple 

Has  a  stem  that  passes  through, 
And  this  stem  would  be  the  Axis  ; 

Now  we  '11  whirl  the  apple,  true, 


Holding  fast  'twixt  thumb  and  finger, — - 
That 's  the  way  the  Earth  goes  round 

On  its  Axis,  as  we  call  it, 

Though  no  real  stem  is  found. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies.  105 

And  the  two  ends  of  the  Axis 

Have  befti  called  the  Poles,  my  dear  ; 

Yes,  the  North  Pole  and  the  South  Pole, 
Where  'tis  very  cold  and  drear. 

Now  we  '11  hold  a  bigger  apple 

At  a  distance,  for  the  Sun  ; 
Tip  the  smaller  one  a  little, 

And  then  slowly  wheel  it  round, 
All  around  the  larger  apple, 

And  it  represents  the  Earth 
Circling  round  the  Sun  that  holds  it, 

Ceaseless,  in  its  yearly  path. 

Wondrous  is  the  strong  attraction 

Of  the  Sun  which  holds  in  place, 
All  the  Planets  in  their  turnings, 

All  the  Stars  that  see  his  face  ; 
But  more  wondrous  far  the  power 

That  created  Sun  and  us, 
And  that  gave  a  form  and  being, 

To  this  mighty  Universe. 

"  The  Universe  !  "  now  you  exclaim  ; 

"  By  the  Universe,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

5* 


io6 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Tis  the  Sun  and  the  Planets  and  everything  known, 
That  we  call  by  this  Universe  name. 


Now  the  "  Planets,"  you  ask, 

"  What  are  Planets  ?  "     They  're  globes, 
Some  larger,  some  smaller  than  Earth, — 

Which  are  swinging  in  space, 

And  are  all  held  in  place, 
By  the  God-power  that  first  gave  them  birth. 


Wm 


■M 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 
OUR  LANGUAGE  KEY. 


107 


We  are  small,  and  we  are  few, 
But  we  're  wondrous  mighty,  too,- 
For  no  word  can  language  wear, 
Save  in  it  we  hold  a  share. 
One  of  us  in  May  is  met, — 
One  is  caught  in  every  net ; 
One  is  in  the  clambering  vine, 
One,  in  Moon,  must  ever  shine  ; 
One  's  in  you, — and  all  so  shy, 
The  last  is  hiding  in  your  eye. 


io8 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


TWINKLE,   TWINKLE. 


"  Twinkle,  twinkle,  little  star," 
Up  above  the  world  so  far, 
Whisper  now  and  tell  me,  pray, 
What  you  are,  and  how  you  stay. 


"  Some  of  us  away  so  far, 
Planets  like  your  own  Earth,  are ; 
And  we  shine  with  borrowed  light, 
Borrowed  from  the  Sun,  so  bright. 

"  Some  of  us  are  silvery  moons, 
Shining  all  the  nightly  noons  ; 
Some  of  us  are  jelly,  soft, 
Shooting,  falling,  from  aloft. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


109 


"  Some  of  us  are  Nebulae, — 
Faint  and  misty  stars  we  be  ; — 
Some  are  Suns  to  other  worlds  ; 
Here  and  there  a  Comet  whirls. 


"  Having  each  our  time  and 

place, 
Swinging  in   the  wondrous 

space  ; 
Held   in   line  by  Him  who 

planned, 
And  who  holds  you  in  His 

hand." 


no 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


OLD  SOL  LN  A  JINGLE. 

Hl-DIDDLE-DIDDLE, 
The  Sun  's  in  the  middle, 

And  planets  around  him  so  grand, 
Are  swinging  in  space, 
Held  forever  in  place, 

In  the  Zodiac  q-irdle  or  band. 


MERCURY. 


Hi-diddle-diddle, 

The  Sun  's  in  the  middle, 
And  Mercury 's  next  to  the  Sun  ; 

While  Venus,  so  bright, 

Seen  at  morning  or  night, 
Comes  Second,  to  join  in  the  fun. 


VENUS 


EARTH. 


Hi-diddle-diddle, 

The  Sun  's  in  the  middle, 
And  Third  in  the  group  is  our 
Earth  ; 

While  Mars  with  his  fire, 

So  warlike  and  dire, 
Swings  around  to  be  counted  the  Fourth. 


MARS. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


in 


112 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Hi-diddle-diddle, 

The  Sun  's  in  the  middle, 

While  Jupiter  's  next  after  Mars, — 
And  his  four  moons  at  night 
Show  the  speed  of  the  light ; 

Next,  golden-ringed  Saturn  appears. 


JUPITER.  SATURN. 

Hi-diddle-diddle, 

The  Sun  's  in  the  middle, 
After  Saturn  comes  Uranus  far  ; — 

And  his  antics,  so  queer, 

Led  Astronomers  near 
To  old  Neptune,  who  drives  the  last  car.* 


URANUS. 


NEPTUNE. 


Other  planets  are  as  yet  too  little  known  to  claim  place. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


ii. 


" ROBERT  OF  LINCOLN." 


Bob-o-LINK,  bob-o-link,  reed-bird,  butter-bird, 
All  through  the  country  his  jingle  is  gayly  heard  ; 
Revelling  in  rice-fields  he  sweeps  through  the  South, 
While  wheat,  corn,  and  barley-fields  welcome  him  North. 
And  Bobby  is  wild  with  his  singing  and  chatter, 
So  saucily  calling  with  rattle  and  clatter, 
Bob-o-link,  bob-o-link,  Tom-denny,  Tom-denny, 
Come-now-and-pay-me-that-two-shillings- one-penny, — ■ 
No,-I'll-not-wait-for-a-day-nor-a-minute, 
So-pay-me-up-quick-or-you  '11-get-your-foot-in-it  ; — 
Chink-a-chee,  chink-a-chee,  chink-a-chee,  chin-it, 
Yes,- pay-me- up-quick, -or-you  '11-get-your-foot-in-it. " 


ii4 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


LIMP  Y-  LIMP  I '-  DINGL  E. 


LlMPY-DlMPY-DlNGLE,  chicky-bid  would  stray 

To  the  trap  that  had  been  set  for  weasels,  many  a  day. 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  chicky-bid  walked  in, 

And  the  trap,  its  teeth  shut  up,  on  chicky- biddy's  shin. 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  chicky-bid  is  brought, 

And  her  leg,  so  sore  and  big,  we  bathe  with  water  hot. 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  here's  a  broken  bone, 
All  so  rough, — but  close  enough,   we  bring  the  ends, 
right  soon. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies.  1 1 5 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  strips  of  paste-board  cut, 
We  will  place  with  care  and  grace,  from  thigh  to  trem- 
bling foot. 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  softest  cotton,  too, 

Just  within  the  paste-board  thin,  to  fit  around  so  true. 


Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  now  with  tape  or  band, 
Neatly  wind,   and   closely   bind,   with   deft  and   skilful 
hand. 

Limpy-dimpy-dingle,  nature  '11  do  the  rest, 

And  soon  will  knit  the  bone  to  fit,  as  good  as  very  best. 


n6  Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

THE  RA  TTLE  OF  THE  BONES. 


OW  many  bones  in  the  human  face  ? 
FOURTEEN,  when  they  're  all  in  place. 

How  many  bones  in  the  human  head  ? 
Eight,  my  child,  as  I  've  often  said. 

How  many  bones  in  the  human  ear  ? 
THREE*  in  each;  and  they  help  to  hear. 

How  many  bones  in  the  human  spine  ? 
Twenty-six  ;  like  a  climbing  vine. 

How  many  bones  of  the  human  chest  ? 
TWENTY-FOUR  ribs,  and  TWO  of  the  rest. 

How  many  bones,  the  shoulders,  bind  ? 
Two  in  each  ;  one  before,  one  behind. 

HOW  many  bones  in  the  human  arm  ? 
In  each  arm,  ONE  ;  TWO  in  each  fore-arm. 

*  Standard  authorities  give  three,  though  latest  works  say  four. 


I  iS  Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

How  many  bones  in  the  human  wrist  ? 
EIGHT  in  eachy  if  none  are  missed. 


How  many  bones  in  the  palm  of  the  hand  ? 
FIVE  in  each,  with  many  a  band. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


119 


How  many  bones  in  the  fingers  ten  ? 
TWENTY-EIGHT,  and  by  joints  they  bend. 


I''     How  many  bones  in  the  human  hip  ? 
One  in  each;— like  a  dish  they  dip. 

How    many    bones    in    the     human 
thigh  ? 
A  ^ipp  ONE  in  each, — and  deep  they  lie. 

'fipl   How  many  bones  in  the  human  knees  ? 
'    ONE  in  each, — the  knee-pan,  please. 

How  many  bones  in  the  leg  from  the 

knee  ? 
TWO  in  eac/i,—we  can  plainly  see. 

How  many  bones  in  the  ankle  strong? 
SEVEN  in  each, — but  none  are  long. 


120  Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

How  many  bones  in  the  ball  of  the  foot  ? 
Five  in  each  •  as  in  palms  were  put. 

How  many  bones  in  the  toes  half-a-score  ? 
Twenty-EIGHT, — and  there  are  no  more. 

And  now,  all  together,  these  many  bones,  fix, 

And  they  count  in  the  body  TWO  HUNDRED  and  SIX. 

And  then  we  have,  in  the  human  mouth, 
Of  upper  and  under,  THIRTY-TWO  teeth. 

And  wTe  now  and  then  have  a  bone,  I  should  think, 
That  forms  on  a  joint,  or  to  fill  up  a  chink, — 

A  Sesamoid  bone,  or  a  Wormian,  we  call, 
And  now  we  may  rest,  for  we  've  told  them  all. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


121 


WHOLL  Y  HOLE-  Y. 


SEVEN  million  little  openings, 

God  has  made  upon  your  skin  ; 
Mouths  of  tiny  little  sewers 

That  run  everywhere,  within. 
And  along  these  numerous  sewers 

All  impurities  must  go, 
That  are  not  by  other  outlets, 

Carried  off  with  active  flow. 
6 


122  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

When  these  many  little  openings, 

We  call  PORES,  get  shut  quite  close, 
Through  your  frame  the  poison  wanders, 

Making  you  feel  dull  and  cross. 
It  will  make  your  lungs  grow  tender, 

And  they  '11  soon  be  sore,  and  cough ; 
It  will  make  your  stomach  feeble, 

And  your  head  ache  hard  enough. 

Then  your  heart  can  not  be  joyous, 

And  your  other  organs,  too, 
Will  get  weak,  and  be  unable 

For  the  work  they  ought  to  do  ; 
Quaking  nerves  will  groan  and  quiver, 

Weary  bones  be  racked  with  pain, 
And  you  '11  all  the  time  be  saying  : 

"  How  can  I  be  well  again  ?  " 

HEAT  and  BATHING  widely  opens 

All  the  pores,  when  discords  dire, 
Quick  flow  out  in  perspiration, 

Quenching  all  the  fever-fire. 
Ravelling  out  the  tangled  tissues, 

Setting  free  the  life-blood's  flow, 
Pouring  forth  the  pent-up  poisons, 

Wakening  thus  a  healthful  glow. 


124 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  BREATH  0'  LIFE. 

OUR  lungs   are  formed  of  curious 
cells, 
And  tubes  to  draw  in  air,— 

And  if  we  breathe  quite 
deep  and  full 
And  take  our  needful 
share, 
'T  will  keep  our  blood  so 
red  and  pure, 
Our    health    so    firm 
and  true, 
We  scarce  shall  know  what  suffering  means, 
But  joyous  feel,  and  new. 

But  if  we  wear  our  clothing  tight, 

The  little  cells  will  close, 
And  then  they  cannot  do  their  work, 

And  thus  our  health  we  lose  ; — 
Or  if  we  breathe  the  air  impure, 

'T  will  give  us  tainted  blood, 
While  plenty,  pure,  sun-ripened  air 

Will  make  us  glad  and  £ood. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


"5 


.      \naar 


J>J*^>- 


mm 


CURIOUS    TREES. 

THE    COW-TREE. 

South  America's  soil 

Yields    the    towering    Cow- 
tree, 
With  sweet  milk  in  its  cells 

For  you  or  for  me  ; 
Its  sap  is  the  Milk,— 

Cut  the  tree  and  it  flows  ; 
Like  leather  its  leaves, 
SgkAnd  its  branches  like  bows. 
!'(t 


126  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

THE   SUGAR-PINE. 

Then,  too,  my  dear  children, 

The  sweet  Sugar-pine, 
On  Pacific's  wild  coast, 

In  our  own  soil  we  find  ; 
Cut  or  scoop  out  the  trunk, 

And  the  juices  ooze  forth, 
And  harden,  for  sugar, 

Like  icicles,  North. 


THE   BUTTER-TREE. 

And,  funny  enough, 

There's  a  Butter-tree,  too  ; 
Its  seeds,  when  boiled  down, 

Will  make  butter  for  you. 
In  India  and  Afric 

The  Butter-tree  grows, 
With  coffee  and  spices, 

As  every  one  knows. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


127 


THE   BREAD-FRUIT  TREE. 


AND  listen,  dear  children, 

In  hot  countries  too, 
The  Bread-fruit  tree  grows, 

Most  delicious  for  you  ; 
Its  great  roasted  nuts, 

Like  soft,  sweet  loaves  of  bread, 
Form  most  of  the  food 

On  which  natives  are  fed. 


128 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


And  further,  its  fibres 

Of  bark,  will  make  cloth  ; 
Its  wood,  boats  and  houses  ; — 

Its  leaves  are  not  loath 
To  be  used  for  a  towel, 

A  table-cloth,  napkin  ; 
Its  juice  will  make  bird-lime, 

And  tinder,  its  catkin. 


THE   CLOVE-TREE. 

And,  children,  one  more, 

Here's  a  spicy  Clove-tree, 
Growing  forty  feet  high, 

Ornamental,  you  see  ; 
The  little  round  drop, 

Fixed   the   four    prongs   be- 
tween, 
Forms  the  blossom  or  flower, 

When    it's    not    picked    too 
green. 

Now  list,  while  I  tell  you, — 
Clove-trees  will  not  grow 

Except  in  hot  climates, 
Moluccas,  or  so, 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Where  they  bloom  the  year  round, 

In  the  sunshine  or  storm, 
With  their  trunks  straight  and  smooth, 

And  their  pyramid  form. 

And  lastly,  dear  children, 

Clove-trees  never  flower 
Till  a  half-dozen  years 

They  have  grown,  maybe  more  ; 
Then  the  buds,  picked  by  hand, 

And  dried  quickly,  are  best ; — 
Trees  a  hundred  years  old 

Often  yield  with  the  rest. 


129 


6* 


130  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

NO  EYES. 


Those  Creatures  that  live  in  the  dark, 

And  have  no  use  for  eyes, 
Are  made  without  these  organs  bright, 

Which  we  so  highly  prize. 

The  fish  in  the  Mammoth  cave, — 

Some  species  of  the  Ant, — 
Have  only  a  trace  where  eyes  should  be, 

Yet  never  know  the  want. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

Who  knows  but  girls  and  boys, 
Kept  always  in  the  dark, 

Might  come  to  have  but  little  sight, 
And  finally  not  a  spark. 


131 


God  meant  us  to  live  in  the  light 
He  has  poured  it  all  about ; 

Oh,  let  us  not  ourselves  destroy, 
By  shutting  His  sunshine  out. 


132 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  MAMMOTH  CAVE. 


"  What  is  the  Mammoth  Cave  ?  " 
I  hear  the  children  say, 
Where  fishes  have  no  eyes  nor  sight, 
And  where  'tis  dark  by  day  ? 


You  all  have  seen  a  ledge 

Of  big  rocks  piled,  or  stone  ? — 

Now  just  suppose  a  door-way  made, 
Or  entrance  to  go  in. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  133 

And  when  you  're  in,  a  path 

Leads  on,  right  under  ground, 
And  by-and-by  you  come  to  a  place 

Like  a  room  with  walls  around. 

Tis  jagged  and  rough  and  rude, 

Tis  dark  and  damp  as  a  grave, 
But  whether  'tis  large  or  small. 

'Tis  always  called  a  cave. 

Now,  Mammoth  means  monstrous  big, 
And  the  Mammoth  Cave,  we  claim — 

As  the  largest  known  in  the  world, 
And  that 's  what  gives  the  name. 

And  it  has  many  a  room, 

Quite  large  and  wondrous  grand, 
And  it  has  springs  and  streams  and  lakes, 

All  dark,  you  understand. 

And  here  are  fishes,  too, 

Yes,  fishes  with  no  eyes, 
That  have  lived  in  the  dark  for  ages  past, 

As  learned  men  surmise. 


134  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

THE  CAMELS. 

THE  Camels  live  in  desert  lands  ; 
Their  feet  are  made  to  walk  on  sands  ; 
They  carry  burdens  far  and  near, 
Where  neither  grass  nor  trees  appear  ; 

Where  there  's  no  rain,  no  rivers,  brooks, 
No  water  anywhere  for  folks  ; — 
But  God  has  made  in  Camels'  chest, 
Peculiar  sacs,  for  He  knew  best 

What  they  must  do,  and  that  they  'd  die, 
If  He  did  not  their  drink  supply. 
Before  they  start  they  drink  and  drink, 
Till  every  sac  is  full  I  think, — 

And  at  the  mouth  of  every  sac, 
A  muscle  strong,  but  loose  and  slack, 
Will  tighten  up  when  it  is  filled, 
So  that  no  drink  can  e'er  be  spilled. 

And  when  on  journey,  last  or  first, 
The  camel  wants  to  slake  his  thirst, 
A  bag-string  loosens,  and  out-pours 
Enough  to  satisfy  for  hours. 


136 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 

The  laden  camels,  in  a  row, 

Are  called  a  Caravan,  you  know  ; — 

Sometimes  a  caravan  is  lost, 

Being  buried  deep  in  sand  and  dust. 


A  storm  of  wind,  a  Simoon  named, 
Will  sweep  across  the  desert  sand, 
When  camels,  men,  and  every  one 
Must  throw  themselves  their  knees  upon, 

And  bury  faces  in  the  earth, 
For  thus  alone  they  save  their  breath  ; 
A  fearful  thing,  but  'tis  the  best 
That  they  can  do, — now  hear  the  rest. 


Mother    Truili  s  Melodies. 

Sometimes  they  're  buried  deep,  and  find 
When  they  dig  out  they  're  almost  blind 
And  cannot  tell  which  way  to  go, 
And  thus  are  lost, — a  serious  woe  ! 


*Z7 


Sometimes,  when  lost,  the  drink  for  men 
Gets  short ;  is  gone  ;  they  thirst,  and  then 


They  kill  a  camel  just  for  lack 
Of  what  he  carries  in  his  sac. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

In  deserts  bare  and  bleak  and  drear, 
The  sun  shines  hot  through  all  the  year, 
But  many  an  Oasis  is  found, 
Or  spot  where  grass  and  trees  abound. 


And  here  is  drink,  and  here  they  rest, 
And  take  their  fill  of  what  is  best ; 
Then  travel  on  in  thankful  mood, 
With  song  and  shout !  "  Allah  is  good  !  " 


Mother-  Truth's  Melodies. 


139 


KEY-NOTES. 


Lightly  flowing  liquids,  we,- 

Tethered  with  our  brothers, 
Make  we  music,  melody, 

More  than  all  the  others  ;— 
Lulling,  mellowy,  nimble,  rare, 

Revelling  in  rhythm, 
Running  here  and  everywhere, 

Make  we  merry  with  'em. 


140  Mother    TrutJis  Melodies. 

THE  BEARS. 

WlLD  bears  are  found  all  over, 
From  Northern  lands  to  South, 

But  largest,  strongest,  where  'tis  cold, 
And  fiercest,  farthest  North. 

All  bears  are  fond  of  honey, 

Of  berries,  too,  and  roots  ; 
They  hug  or  squeeze  their  prey  to  death., 

As  this  their  nature  suits. 

They  mate  in  June-y  weather  : 

Their  little  ones  are  cubs  ; 
They  sadly  mourn  when  mates  are  killed, 

You'd  almost  hear  their  sobs. 

They'll  try  to  feed  a  cub 

That's  lying  cold  and  dead, 
And  will  not  flee,  but  stand  and  take 

The  fatal  knife  instead. 


142 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

They  sleep  through  winter-time, — 
But  prowl  in  wildest  storms, 

With  hope  to  find  some  creature  killed, 
Or  struck  with  death's  alarms. 


-« 


The  bears  are  white,  or  black, 
Or  brown,  or  grizzly  gray, — 

The  white,  'mong  polar  snows  are  found, 
Where  half  the  year  is  day. 

Their  fur  is  used  for  robes, 

For  coats,  sometimes  a  muff; — 

Their  meat  is  prized  by  some  as  food, 
While  some  would  call  it  "  stuff." 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

They  nimbly  climb  a  tree, 

But  "  back  down," — for  their  frame 
Is  made  so  lungs  would  forward  press, 

If  they,  head-foremost,  came. 


H3 


THE  BEAR  A  BLESSING. 


To  people  of  Kamtschatka, 
The  bear  a  blessing  proves  ; 

His  skin  forms  beds  and  coverlets, 
And  bonnets,  shoes,  and  gloves. 

His  flesh  and  fat  are  dainties, 

And  of  his  intestine, 
Is  made  a  mask  for  warding  off 

The  glare  of  Sun  in  Spring. 


144 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

'Tis  also  used  for  windows, 
As  substitute  for  glass  ; — 

Of  shoulder-blade  a  tool  is  made, 
That's  used  for  cutting  grass. 


,^—>-/^ 


Norwegians  think  the  Bear  is 

More  sensible  than  men  ; 
While  Laplands  call  him  "  Dog  of  God," 

And  dare  not  him  offend. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies.  145 


THE  fruits  of  the  orchard  and  garden 
Are  beautiful,  luscious,  and  good, — 

Part  ike  of  them  freely,  dear  children, 
But  eat  them  at  meals  with  your  food. 
7 


146 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  RACCOON. 
\ 


Come,  child,  and  see  our  pet  Raccoon, — 
The  Raccoons  live  in  the  woods,  you  know, 
But  ours  was  caught, 
And  caged,  and  brought 
From  old  Virginia,  long  ago. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


147 


Oh,  no,  you  need  not  be  afraid, 
See,  he  is  fastened  with  a  chain  ; 
For  ropes  enough, 
He  has  gnawed  off, 
And  he  is  hard  to  catch  again. 


He  e'en  will  climb  this  ten- 
""W  foot  fence, 

And,    careless   where    his    feet    may 
strike, 

He  tumbles,  bang  ! 

And  there  will  hang, 
His   rope  being  caught    by  vine    or 


And  once  the  rascal  ran 

away  ; 
Was  gone  for  days,  and 
ma3'be  weeks  ; 
When  children  came, 
And  charging  blame, 
Said,    "Your  Raccoon  has  caught   our 
chicks. 


1 48 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


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Mother   Truth 's  Melodies.  149 

So  now  he  's  chained  ;  yet  up  he  '11  climb 
The  stake  to  which  he  's  fastened  tight, 

And  mutter  low, 

So  pleading,  Oh ! 
'T  would  make  you  sorry  for  him,  quite. 

Just  see  his  nose,  so  pointed,  sharp, — 
His  ears  as  keen  as  keen  can  be, — 

His  eyes  so  bright, 

So  full  of  light, 
And  see  him  leap  right  merrily  ! 

His  fur,  you  see,  is  yellowish  gray, — 
And  he  is  nearly  two  feet  long  ; 

He  lives  on  roots, 

And  nuts  and  fruits, 
When  he  's  his  native  woods  among. 

But  here  we  give  him  bread  and  milk ; 
He  never  eats  like  dogs  or  lambs, 

But  takes  it  up 

From  out  the  cup 
With  his  fore-foot,  as  we  use  hands. 


i«;o 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


You  'd  laugh  to  see  him,  I  am  sure  ; 
Of  strawberries,  too,  he  's  very  fond  ; 

Will  poke  around 

Till  he  has  found 
Each  one  among  the  hulls  out-thrown. 

Then,   too,   he's  fond  of 

nice  clean  clothes, — 
Will  spring  for  sheets  hung 
out  to  dry ; 

And  children  dressed 
In  very  best, 
Are    sure    to    please    his 
dainty  eye. 

No  matter  where  his  feet 

have  been, 
He  '11    spring    and    plant 
them,  little  pest, 
On  something  white, 
And  then  will  fight 
To  hold,  and  hide  it  in  his  nest. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


151 


You  've  "  come  again  to  see  our  Coon  "  ? 
Well,  he  is  gone  ;  he  plagued  us  so, 

We  sent  the  "  Rac" 

To  Central  Park, 
Where  you  can  see  him  when  you  go. 

Oh  yes,  they  're  glad  to  get  him,  there ; 
They    have    no    clothes    hung    out    to 
dry; 

And  children  aye 

Must  stand  away, 

For  there  a  keeper  's  always  nigh. 


A  "Yes"  and  "  No  "  are  common,  hard, 
But  "yes'm,"  "no-sir,"  choice; — 

Let  none  but  sweet  and  gentle  words 
Flow  from  your  gift  of  voice. 


152 


Mother   Truth's  Me  loci i 


es. 


THE  BANKS  WALL  O  WS. 


IN  a  village  of  Bank-Swallows, 
You  will  find  so  many  a  nest, 
"That  you  scarce  can  tell  their  number, 
Nor  which  one  of  them  is  best." 


Mother   Truttis  Melodies.  153 

In  the  sand-hill,  see  the  openings, 
Round  or  oval,  odd-shaped,  some, 

Size  and  form  depending  often, 
On  how  loose  the  sand  become 


When  with  their  short  bills  they  pecked  it,- 
Clinging  fast  with  claws  the  while, — 

Till  they  made  an  open  door-way, 
Suiting  them  in  size  and  style. 

Once  within,  they  peck  and  peck  it, 
Sometimes  quite  a  yard  or  more, — 

While  the  nest  is  snugly  builded, 
Farthest  from  the  outer  door. 

But,  so  wise  are  they,  this  archway 
From  the  entrance  to  the  nest, 

Is  inclining  ever  upward, 

That  no  rain  within  may  rest. 

So  the  pink-white  eggs  are  laid  there, 
Safe  from  harm,  till  baby-birds 

Chirrup  forth  to  take  their  places 
'Mongst  the  self-sustaining  herds. 
7* 


154  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Smallest  of  the  swallow  species, 
Homeliest,  too,  yet  favorites  dear, 

For  their  graceful,  airy  movements, 
And  their  simple,  social  cheer. 

Found  are  they  from  North  to  South-land, 
Known  of  every  tribe  and  race  ; — 

Swift  in  flight,  yet  swinging,  swaying, 
Skimming  low  from  place  to  place. 

Parent-birds  care  less  for  young  ones, 
Than  do  other  swallow-kind  ; — 

Push  them  off  half-fledged  and  timid, 
Each  his  food  and  home  to  find. 

Thus  they,  many  a  time,  fall  prey  to 
Hawks  and  crows, — their  enemies  ; — 

Even  the  nest  sometimes  is  entered 
By  the  snakes  and  fleas  and  flies. 

Swallows  migrate  in  the  Winter, 
From  the  cold,  to  warmer  climes, — 

Flying  back  as  Spring  approaches, 
To  the  haunts  of  former  times. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


155 


"  Ne'er  one  swallow  makes  a  Summer,' 

Is  a  saying  everywhere  ; — 
But  when  swallows  come  in  myriads, 

Blessed  Summer-time  is  here. 


JM 


156  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

THE  MOCKING-BIRD. 


The  New  World  boasts  the  Mocking-bird  ; 

And  whether  caged  or  free, 
His  wondrous  voice  pours  forth  in  songs 

Of  rarest  melody. 

His  notes  swell  out,  and  die  away, 

As  if  a  joyous  soul 
Were  wrought  to  highest  ecstasy, 

All  music  to  control. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 

His  native  notes  are  bold  and  full, 

And  then  he  '11  imitate, 
Till  it  would  seem  the  feathered  tribe 

Were  all  arrayed  in  state. 

V.I.I.     |[.-.iAx  \ 


157 


He'll  whistle  for  the  dog  or  cat, — 
Will  squeak  like  chicken,  hurt, — 

And  cluck  and  crow  and  bark  and  mew, 
So  comical  and  curt. 

While  blue-birds  warble,  swallows  scream, 

Or  hens- will  cackle  clear, — 
In  robin's  song,  the  whip-poor-will 

Pours  forth  his  plaint  so  near. 


158 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Canaries,  hang-birds,  nightingales, 
He  echoes  loud  and  long  ; 

While  they  stand  silent,  mortified, 
He  triumphs  in  his  song. 


THE  BUSY  BEES. 


__.-';_  'a 


WHY  do  the  little  busy  bees 
So  dearly  love  their  queen, 

And  wait  upon,  and  pay  respect, 
With  watchful  care  and  mien  ? 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies.  159 

Because  the  queen  lays  all  the  eggs, 

And  mothers  all  the  young, 
While      every      father  -  bee     that 's 
hatched 

Is  nothing  but  a  drone. 


The  working-bees  might  all  be  queens, 

If  cared  for  and  well-fed 
When  they  are  in  the  larvae  state, 

But  they're  half-starved  instead, — 


While  those  intended  for  young  queens 

Are  fattened  overmuch, 
And  nursed  and  petted  every  hour, 

That  they  full  growth  may  reach. 

For  every  different  kind  of  egg 
That  makes  the  different  bees, 

A  different  kind  of  cell  is  made, 
The  queen  directing  these. 

For  drones  or  males,  six-sided  cells, 
Quite  neat,  and  smooth,  and  nice  ; 

For  working-bees  a  smaller  cell, 
Uncouth,  and  rough,  and  coarse  ; 


160  Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

While  those  for  queens  are  large  and  free, 
And  fashioned  fine  with  care, 

And  lined  with  softest  silken  shreds, 
So  daintily  they  fare. 


The  queen-bee  lays  the  worker-eggs, 

A  dozen  days,  I  ween, 
And  then  the  drones,  as  many  more, 

Then  workers,  then  the  queen. 

Eggs,  two  or  three,  and  sometimes  four 

Are  laid  in  worker-cell ; 
While  drones  and  queens  have  each  but  one, 

As  oft  is  proven  well. 


The  bluish  eggs  so  close  and  warm, 
Hatch  out  with  three  days  passed ; 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


161 


When  larvae,  white,  as  little  worms, 
Are  watched  and  fed  and  nursed. 

These  larvae,  when  some  six  days  old, 
Close  in  their  cells  are  shut, 

And  there  at  once  begin  to  weave 
A  silken  web  about. 


They  turn  and  twist  till  all  around 
Themselves  'tis  woven  quite, 

And  then  they  rest  for  twenty  days, — 
'Tis  such  a  pretty  sight, 

The  small  cocoons  of  working- 
bees, 
The  larger  ones  of  drones, 

The  large  and  plump  and  per- 
fect ones 

Of  all  the  coming  queens. 


162 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


In  twenty  days  they  now  burst  forth, 

Equipped  from  tip  to  toe, 
The  working-bees  and  drones,  I  mean, 

For  queens  come  forth  more  slow. 


The  queen  cocoons  ope  from 
behind, 
And  I  will  tell  you  why, 
u    'Tis   that   the    reigning    queen 
may  sting 
The  others  till  they  die. 

If   mother-queen    leads   off  a 

swarm, 

A  young  queen  they  release, 

And    she    may   take    another 

swarm, 

And  leave  the  hive  in  peace. 

Another    queen    is    then     let 
out, 

Perhaps  a  third  and  fourth, 
As  many  as  can  raise  a  swarm, 

To  follow  them,  not  loath; 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies.  163 

But  when  no  more  can  swarm  and  go, 

Because  not  bees  enough, 
As  I  have  said,  the  reigning  queen 

Stings  all  the  rest  to  death. 


For  in  each  hive  and  everywhere, 

One  queen  alone  will  reign, 
And  any  interloper  meets 

With  sure  and  sharp  disdain. 

Of  workers,  some  are  strong  to  fly, 
While  some  are  weak  and  small, 

Unfitted  quite,  for  load  or  flight, 
Or  outside  work  at  all. 

These  last  complete  the  larvae-cells, 
And  nurse  and  feed  the  young  ; 

They  mix  the  bee-bread,  cleanse  the  hive, 
And  care  for  every  drone. 

All  bees  have  stings  except  the  drones, 
And  these,  when  Autumn  nears, 

Are  stung  to  death  with  furious  wrath, 
As  by  the  book  appears. 


164 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


And  now  I  hope  you  children  all, 
Will  use  your  wondrous  power 

To  "  gather  honey  all  the  day, 
From  every  opening  flower." 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


165 


BBB     R     YYY 
B     U     YY* 


*  Bees  are  wise  ; 
Be  vou  wise. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  167 

HONEY-SWEET. 

"  Ah,  but  how  do  bees  make  honey  ?  " 
Now  the  children,  eager,  ask  ; 
And  we  '11  try  to  give  them  answer, 
If  we  're  able  for  the  task. 

See,  the  under-lip  is  lengthened, 

Like  a  trunk  or  proboscis, 
Ending  by  a  kind  of  button, 

Fringed  with  tiny,  moving  hairs. 

All  along  its  length,  too,  fringes, 
Just  the  same,  are  growing  forth  ; 

And  by  means  of  these,  the  honey 
Is  conveyed  from  flowers  to  mouth. 

Then  the  bee  has  two  small  stomachs, 

In  the  first  of  which  is  stored 
All  the  honey  it  can  gather, 

But,  when  home,  'tis  quick  out  poured. 


1 68  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Bees  have  six  legs  ;  and  in  hindmost, 
There  are  baskets  found,  or  bags, 

Into  which  the  pollen  gathered, 
Is  brushed  off  by  the  other  legs. 

And  this  pollen,  for  the  bee- bread 
And  as  food  for  young,  they  use, 

Mixed  with  honey  and  with  water, — 
Swallowed  and  disgorged  like  juice 


><R! 


By  the  nurses,  who  digest  it 
Partly,  for  the  larvae- food, 

Taking  care  that  each  shall  have  it, 
Just  according  to  the  brood. 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 

Now  we  '11  watch  and  see  them  working  ; 

See  them  brush  off  pollen-dust ; 
See  them,  too,  disgorge  the  honey, 

Into  cells  the  sweetness  thrust. 


169 


Children,  with  your  useful  fingers, 

Hands  and  arms  and  feet  and  head, 

Do  not  let  the  bees  surpass  you, 

Making  honey,  nay,  nor  bread. 
8 


170 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


WHAT  THEY  SAY. 


THOSE  creatures  that  chew  the  cud, 
The  "  Ruminants  "  we  call, 

From  "  Rumen,"  or  the  stomach-pouch, 
In  which  their  food  doth  fall. 

A  "  Species  "  is  a  kind 

Of  animals  or  plants  ; — 
Each  species  has  a  different  name, 

And  differing  traits  and  wants. — 


And  species  may  unite 
To  form  a  Race  we  know, 

For  race  from  root  is  always  drawn, 
And  roots  must  spread  and  grow. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  171 


That  men  and  women  are 

The  race  most  choice  and  fine, 

We  plainly  see,  and  sometimes  call, 
The  Human  Race,  Divine. 


172 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


The  noble  Horse  neighs  out, 
"  I  am  the  race  Equine, 
(ft       And  nearest  seem,  and  dear- 
est to 
The  '  human  race,  divine.'  " 


^ARJBBJSsjg 


The  Ox  and  Cow  l-o-o,  l-o-o, 
' '  We  are  the  race  Bovine  ; 

And  we  most  useful  are,  unto 
The  '  human  race,  divine.'  " 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


173 


The  Ass  and  Mule  bray  out, 
"  Our  race  is  Assinine, 

And  very  like  us  seem  some  of 
The  '  human  race,  divine.'  " 


The  Dog  bow-wows  as  race 
Canine,  Canine,  Canine;- 


174 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies, 


While  Tigers,  Cats  and  Catamounts, 
G  r-o-w-1,  growl,  as  race  Feline. 


The  Lion,  king  of  beasts 

(Feline),  roars  "Leonine" ; — 

The  Lamb  that's  to  lie  down  with  him, 
Ba-a,  ba-as  for  race  Ovine. 


Mother    Truth '  s  Melodies. 


175 


Fishes  in  lakes  or  seas 
Or  rivers  sport  Piscine , 


While  birds  in  air,  or  cages  close, 
Sing  "  race  Avine,  Avine" 


All  bees  in  hives  or  wild, 
Hum  out  the  race  Apine ; 


176  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

And  reptiles  all  rejoicing  crawl 
In  race,  Reptilian. 


I've  a  name  that  \s  made  up  of  three  letters  alone, — 
That  reads  backwards  and  forwards  the  same ; 

I  speak  without  sound, — yes,  I  talk  without  tongue, 
And  to  beauty  I  lay  the  first  claim. 


A  word  of  three  syllables,  children,  now  find, 
That  holds  the  whole  twenty-six  letters  combined.* 

The  B  ing  m  t,  John  put  some  :  f 

stand  take  to  taking  . 

I  you  throw  my 

*  Alphabet. 

f  The  grate  being  empty,  John  put  some  coal  on. 

%  I  understand  you  undertake  to  overthrow  my  undertaking. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


17; 


SRI  TAIN'S  RULERS. 


Old  Britain  was  under  the  Romans 

From  fifty-five  years  before  Christ,  (55  B.  C.) 

To  four  hundred  fifty-five  (455)  A.  D. 

When  the  Octarchy,  eight  states  were  spliced. 


178  Mother   Truths  Melodies. 

For  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  cycles, 

This  Octarchy,  changing  about, 
Was  ruled  now  by  this  one,  now  that  one, 

As  each  might,  the  former  king,  rout. 

But  ever  since  eight-twenty-seven  (827), 
Britain's  rulers  have  reigned  by  descent, 

From  Egbert,  first  "  Monarch  of  England," 
To  Victoria,  daughter  of  Kent. 

A  score  reigned  and  fell. — Second  Harold 

In  ten-sixty-six  (1066),  proud,  usurps, 
But  soon  in  fierce  battle  is  conquered 

By  William  of  Normandy's  troops. 

Then  came  William  the  Conqueror,  a  Norman, 

Then  William  the  Second,  his  son  ; 
Then  Henry  and  Stephen  and  Henry, 

Then  Richard  (Cceur  de  Lion),  and  John. 

Next  Henry  the  Third,  and  First  Edward, 
Edward  Second  and  Third,  Richard,  two  (II), 

Henrys  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth,  and  Fourth  Edward, 
Fifth  Edward, — Third  Richard,  they  rue. 

Henry  Seventh  and  Eighth,  and  Sixth  Edward, 
Then  Mary,  Bess,  James,  and  Charles  First, — 

Eleven  years  then  with  no  monarch  ; 

Second  Charles,  Second  James,  not  the  worst. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 


179 


Then  William  and  Mary,  then  Anne, 
Four  Georges,  Fourth  William,  until 

Came  Victoria,  long  live  her  queenship, 
For  she  wields  her  proud  sceptre  with  skill. 


i8o 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies. 


SIGNS  OF  THE  ZODIAC. 


The  annual  path  of  the  Sun, 

The  Ecliptic  is  called,  as  we  see, — 

And  a  belt,  eight  degrees  (8°),  on  each  side, 
The  Zodiac  ever  will  be. 

The  principal  planets  all  seem 

To  move  in  the  zodiac  lines, 
While  the  belt,  of  itself,  is  cut  up 

Into  twelve  equal  parts,  called  the  Signs. 


And  these  signs  were  first  named,  we  are  told, 
From  their  fancied  resemblance  to  beasts, 

Which  astronomers  thought  they  could  see 
In  the  stars,  from  the  West  to  the  East. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  181 


There  is  Aries,  the  Ram, 
—then  the  Bull, 

Which  is  Taurus, — then 
Gemini,  Twins  ; — 

Then    Cancer,    a    Crab, — 
and  then  Leo, 
A  Lion, — and  Virgo,  Vir- 
gin. 


Next  Libra,  the  Bal- 


And  Scorpio,  a  Scor- 


Sagittarius,    the    Ar 


Capricornus,  a  Goat's 


ance  or  Scales, 


pion  (with  sting), - 


cher  or  Arrow, — 


horn,  we  bring. 


182 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


Aquarius,  the  Bearer 


And  Pisces,  or  Fish 


of  Water, — 


from  the  sea, — 


All  together  make  twelve, — and  a  wonder 
It  is,  that  these  fancies  should  be. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  183 

LITTLE  MISCHIEF. 

LITTLE  Master  Mischief 

Lives  in  Nellie's  eye, 
Sitting  in  the  corner, 

Peeping  out  so  sly  ; 
Now  he's  crossed  the  snow-ground 

And  in  chamber  blue, 
Thinking  he  is  hidden, 

Peek-a-boos  at  you. 

Now  he  drops  the  curtain, 

Sure  that  he  is  hid, 
But  you  see  him  dancing 

Even  on  the  lid. 
Now,  the  curtain  lifting, 

You  can  see  he's  crept 
To  the  inner  chamber, 

Where  the  love-light  slept. 

Watching  now  his  moment 

He  pops  out,  and  see 
Mama's  spools  and  thimble 

Quickly  disagree. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  185 

Shall  we  punish  Mischief? 

Better  teach  the  child 
How  to  hold  and  lead  him, 

Running  now  so  wild. 

Would  she  like  her  playthings 

Scattered  here  and  there, 
When  she  had  arranged  them  ? 

Would  she  think  it  fair  ? 
Would  she  like  her  puzzle 

Portions  of  it,  lost  ? 
Would  she  like  her  dishes 

Everywhere  uptossed  ? 
Would  she  like  her  apron 

With  a  missing  string, 
Mama  hunting,  meanwhile, 

Thread  and  everything? 

Nellie,  learn  the  lesson  : 

Be  to  others  true, — 
Always  do  as  you  would 

Have  them  do  to  you. 


1 86 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


This  the  dear  Lord's  precept,- 
This  the  Golden  Rule, — 

This  the  highest  lesson 
In  our  Nellie's  school. 


E  gentle  and  loving, — 
Be  kind  and  polite  ; 

Be  thoughtful  for  others, 
Be  sure  and  do  right. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


187 


GRANDMAS  CANARY. 


GRANDMA  loves  her  birdy, 
And  when  he  gayly  sings, 

She  will  laugh  and  chat  with  him, 
At  which  he  hops  and  springs. 

Fearing  though  that  birdy 

Might  not  understand, 
Grandma  from  the  toy-shop, 

Brought  a  whistle  grand. 

Tuning  now  the  whistle, 
To  his  sweet  bird-note, 

He  in  singing  back  to  her, 
Nearly  burst  his  throat. 


i88 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Birdy,  free  outflying, 
Often  comes  to  light 

On  Grandma's  tip-of-finger, 
Or   chair- back,    pretty 
sight  ! 

From   her  hand   she   feeds 
him, 

And  he  oft  will  take 
From  her  mouth  the  sugar, 

With  a  merry  shake. 

Yester-morn  the  window 
Being  open  wide, 

Birdy  thought  it  brighter 
On  the  outer  side. 

Grandma  mourning  sadly, 
Shed  of  tears  a  few, 

Then  she  prayed  the  Father, 
"  Show  me  what  to  do." 

Soon  she  set  his  cage  out 
On  the  window-sill, 
Saying  "  Birdy  '11  come  now, 
Oh,  I'm  sure  he  will !  " 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Then  she,  hopeful,  praying 
"  Bring  my  birdy  home," 

Took  the  sweet  bird-whistle, 
Playing  "Birdy,  come." 

And  the  birdy  hearing, 
Quickly  came  and  lit 

On  the  cage,  and  shortly 
Flitted  into  it. 

Thankful  now  was  Grandma, 
To  the  dear  Lord,  who, 

Listening  to  her  prayer, 
Taught  her  what  to  do. 


189 


190 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


HANDSOME  DICK. 


Elzie's  kitty,  white  as  snow, 
Loves  his  little  mistress  so, 
That  he  '11  come  at  her  command, 
Lift  his  paw  to  shake  her  hand, 
Bow  his  head  and  kneel  to  her, 
Rumpling  all  his  milk-white  fur  ; — 
Many  another  pretty  trick, 
Too,  he  's  learned,  our  Elzie's  Dick. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  191 

Well,  the  Church-Fair  coming  on, 
Elzie  thought,  "  What  can  be  done 
By  a  little  girl  like  me, 
In  the  cause  of  charity  ?  " 

Mam'a  told  her  she  would  show 
Her  some  fancy  work  to  do, 
Which  a  half-a-dozen  dimes 
Sure  would  bring  ; — so,  many  times 
Elzie  made  her  fingers  fly 
Neat  and  nice  to  form  the  "  tie." 
Now  our  Elzie,  large  and  fine, 
Looks  like  twelve,  though  only  nine — 
And  the  "  tie  "  when  quite  complete, 
Was  so  small,  though  choice  and  neat, 
That  it  could  not  be  denied, 
Elzie  was  not  satisfied. 
So  she  shook  her  curly  head, 
As  with  curious  smile  she  said  : 
"  If  I  were  a  little  girl, 

Like  Nannette  or  Cousin  Pearl, 
This  wee  '  tie  '  might  then  appear 
Just  the  thing, — but  now,  I  fear, 
Looking  at  the  '  tie  '  and  me, 
We  shall  seem  to  disagree. — 


192 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Now,  Mamma,  don't  answer  quick  ; 

Stop  and  think, — my  snowy  Dick, 

At  the  Fair  might  win  some  pence, 

By  his  wise  obedience 

And  his  pretty  winsome  ways 
Being    shown    through    all    the 

days ; — 
And,  dear  Mama,  then  I  should 
Feel  I'd  done  the  best  I  could." 

Quickly  Mama  took  the  thought, 
And  a  royal  cage  was  brought ; 
Cushion  made  of  scarlet  bright, — 
For  our  Dicky,  pure  and  white, 
Thus   was   wont  to    perch   and 

sit, — 
And  a  collar  blue  we  fit 
To  his  neck,  when  loyal,  true, 
He   presents    red,    white,     and 

blue. 

Soon  the  cage  is  placed  within 
A  sly  corner,  free  from  din, 
And  with  tickets,  five  cents  each, 
Elzie  sought  her  end  to  reach. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


193 


"  Handsome  Dick  !  weight  fifteen  pounds" — 
Whispers  Elzie,  on  her  rounds  ; 
"  What  is  '  Handsome  Dick '  ?  "  they  say  ; 
"  Come  and  see,  please, — step  this  way  ;  " 


And  once  seen  they  're  glad  to  tell 
Others  of  white  Dick,  as  well ; — 
For  the  cat,  as  knowing  now 
He  must  make  his  courtliest  bow, 
Did  his  best  to  help  along 
Elzie's  plan,  the  friends  among. 
9 


194  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

Upon  his  cushion  he  would  stand, 

Or  sit,  as  Elzie  might  command  ; 

Then  down  upon  his  blanket  lie 

And  be  wrapped  up  like  baby-bye ; 

Would  lap  his  milk,  or  dainty,  sip, 

And  shake  his  pretty  under-lip, 

Thus  showing  teeth  as  white  as  pearl, — 

Then  round  and  round  would  quickly  whirl, 

Till  each  one  seeing,  cheerful,  said  : 

"  For  that  five  cents,  I'm  sure  we  're  paid." 

Thus  the  three  days  passing  by, 
Which  the  Fair  must  occupy — 
Dollars  ten — ah,  yes  !  and  more, 
Elzie  holds  within  her  store  ! 
Dues  for  cage  and  tickets  met, 
And  the  ten  is  Elzie's  yet,— 
Which  unto  the  Fair  she  gave 
With  an  air  so  joyful-grave, 
That  it  seemed  a  spirit  bright, 
Nestled  in  her  heart  so  light  ; — 
And  a  happier  child  than  she, 
We  may  never  hope  to  see. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  195 

THE  DINNER-POT. 


THE  homeliest  things  are  highest  worth, 

The  dinner-pot  's  a  treasure 
Compared  with  diamonds,  chains,  and  rings, 

Which  serve  alone  for  pleasure  ; — 
Enwreathe  the  dinner-pot  with  flame, 

And  fill  it  with  love's  mixings, 
And  it  possesses  charms  beyond 

All  gold  or  fancy  fixings. 

And  then,  our  bony  frame-work,  too, 

So  stiff  and  hard  and  homely, 
Will  serve  when  plumpness  all  is  gone, 

And  lost  is  all  that 's  comely. 
Fling  beauty,  grace,  and  sweetness  round, 

Festoon  your  lives  with  flowers, 
But  ne'er  forget  that  plainest  things 

Are  life's  most  precious  dowers. 


196 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


DARE  TO  SA  Y  NO. 


Dear  children,  you  are  sometimes  led 
To  sorrow,  sin,  and  woe, 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  197 

Because  you  have  not  courage  quite, 
And  dare  not  answer,  No. 

When  playmates  tell  you  this,  or  that 

Is  "  very  nice  to  do," 
See  first  what  mama  says,  or  if 

You  think  'tis  wrong,  say  No. 

Be  always  gentle,  but  be  firm, 

And  wheresoe'er  you  go, 
If  you  are  asked  to  do  what's  wrong, 

Don't  fear  to  answer,  No. 

False  friends  may  laugh  and  sneer  at  you, — 

Temptations  round  you  flow, 
But  prove  yourself  right  brave  and  true, 

And  firmly  tell  them,  No. 

Sometimes  a  thing  that's  not  a  sin, 

You  may  be  asked  to  do, — 
But  when  you  think  it  is  not  best, 

Don't  yield,  but  answer,  No. 

True  friends  will  honor  you  the  more,' 

Ah,  yes,  and  false  ones  too, 
When  they  have  learned  you're  not  afraid 

To  stand  and  answer,  No. 


198  Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 

And  when  temptations  rise  within, 
And  plead  to  "  come,"  or  "  go," 

And  do  a  wrong  for  "Just  this  once" 
Be  sure  you  answer,  No. 

For  when  you  once  have  done  a  Wrong, 
The  Right  receives  a  blow, — 

And  Wrong  will  triumph  easier  now, 
So  haste  and  answer,  No. 

There's  many  a  little  boy  and  girl, 

And  man  and  woman  too, 
Have  gone  to  ruin  and  to  death 

For  want  of  saying,  No  ! 

So,  young  or  old,  or  great  or  small, 
Don't  fail,  whate'er  you  do, 

To  stand  for  Right,  and  nobly  dare 
To  speak  an  honest  No. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


199 


ASK  MOTHER. 


Yes 


DARLING,  when  you  question, 
I  will  answer,  simple,  plain, 
he  Truth  ; — and  when  a 
playmate 

5  you  anything  again, 
'ome  to  Mother,  she  will  tell 
you, 
Yes,  and  tell  you  always 

true, 
For  she  knows  what  's 

low  and  sinful, 

And  what  's  right  and 

wrong  for  you. 


TELL  MOTHER. 

TlS  wrong,  my  dear,  to  do  a  thing 

That  mother  must  not  know  ; — 
And  when  your  playmates,  old  or  young, 

Shall  tell  you  thus  to  do, 
Leave  them  at  once,  and  quickly  come 

To  your  dear  Mother's  side, 
And  tell  her, — for  she  '11  know  what 's  wrong, 

And  she  will  be  your  guide. 


200  Mother  Truttis  Melodies. 


DON'T  TELL  A  LIE. 


DON'T  tell  a  He,  dear  children, 
No  matter  what  you  do, — 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  201 

Own  up,  and  be  a  hero, 

Right  honest,  brave,  and  true. 

You  'd  better  have  a  whipping 

Each  day  than  tell  a  lie, — 
No,  not  a  "  white  one,"  even, 

They  lead  to  blackest  dye. 

The  rod  but  hurts  your  body, 

While  lies  deform  your  soul ; — 
Don't  mind  the  present  smarting, 

Keep  the  spirit  pure  and  whole. 

But  I  am  sure  that  mama 

And  papa,  too,  will  try 
To  help  you  children  tell  the  Truth, 

Nor  drive  you  to  a  lie. 

They  will  not  punish  harshly, 

Nor  when  they  're  angry,  quite  ; 
Nor  promise,  and  then  fail  to  do, — 

But  always  lead  you  right. 
9* 


202 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  RAILROAD. 

Old  Time  has  built  a  Railroad, 

On  which  you  children  speed 
To  a  land  of  light  and  plenty, 

Or  a  land  of  darksome  need  ; 
And  soon  you  '11  come  to  a  meadow, 

Where  two  tracks  mark  the  way, 
But  they  '11  run  close  up  alongside 

For  many  and  many  a  day. 

And  one  is  strewn  with 
roses, 
H      While  one  looks  bleak 
and  bare, 
With  now  and  then  a  ber- 
ry-bush, 
|jL       And  a  violet  here  and 
there  ; — 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

On  one  you  '11  find  companions 
Who  but  for  pleasure  seek, 

While  friends  along  the  other, 
Will  words  of  wisdom  speak. 


20 


Be  careful  in  your  choosing, 

For  if  you  take  the  Right, 
You  will  travel  in  the  shadow 

Of  the  Rock  that  shields  at  night ; 
'T  will  lead  through  greenest  pastures, 

Where  softest  brooklets  flow, 
And  land  you  at  a  Station 

That  is  full  of  cheer  and  glow. 


204  Mother   Trtttti s  Melodies. 

On  the  other  track,  the  roses 

Are  backed  by  sharpest  thorns  ; 
While  berries  always  nourish, 

And  the  violet  but  adorns  ; — 
You  will  stumble  into  sluices, 

And  what  is  worse  than  all, 
Your  self-respect  and  conscience 

Grow  weak  with  every  fall. 

Yes,  if  you  choose  the  other, 

That  looks  so  bright  and  gay, 
You  '11  find  the  bridges  broken, 

And  the  road-bed  washed  away; 
And  when  you  near  the  Station, 

You  '11  switch  to  a  fearful  leap, 
That  will  hurl  you  into  darkness, 

And  bury  you  in  the  deep. 

But  those  who  choose  the  Right  one, 

Grow  manly,  womanly,  true  ; 
God's  love-light  shines  upon  them, 

And  falls  as  heavenly  dew  ; — 
They  grieve  at  your  wild  folly, 

And  will  gladly  help  you  back, 
If  at  any  curve  or  turning 

You  seek  the  trusty  track. 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


205 


SI  i 


'■si 

1-1'.; "    ■       iM  .  '     \ 


But  ah  !  the  scars  you  're  wearing, 
From  thorns  that  pierced  you  sore, — 


206  Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 

And  the  ditches  in  which  you  've  fallen, 
That  were  strewn  with  roses  o'er  ; — 

And  the  joys  you  've  lost,  unnumbered, 
That  spring  from  good  deeds  done  ; — 

And  the  fruits  you  've  missed,  unmeasured, 
That  by  others  have  been  won. 


Though  friends  may  be  indulgent, 

And  loved  ones  even  forget, 
Yourself  can  never  banish 

The  memories  that  beset. 
You  will  wish  you  had  never  travelled 

The  way  that  leads  to  death  ; 
You  will  wish  you  had  never  revelled 

In  the  viper's  venomed  breath. 


So  beware  which  track  you  follow  ; 

And  again  I  say,. beware  ! 
The  False  is  strewn  with  roses, — 

The  True  looks  bleak  and  bare  ; 
But  this,  't  is  plain,  is  only 

That  youthful,  artless  eyes 
Are  open  to  show  and  glamour 

But  see  not  deep  nor  wise. 


Mother    Truth 's  Melodies. 

To  Truth  then,  children,  listen, 

And  cultivate  the  seed 
That  in  your  hearts  God  planted, 

To  serve  your  every  need  ; — 
Yes,  heed  the  voice  within  you, 

And  follow  it  all  the  way, 
For  it  will  help  you  choose  the  road 

That  leads  to  endless  day. 


208 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


MABEL'S  SNO  W-FEA  THERS. 

LISTEN,  children,  while  I  tell  you 
What  our  merry  Mabel  said 

When  she  saw  the  feathery  snow-flakes 
Tumbling  down  about  her  head. 


Clapping  hands  and  dancing  gayly, 
"  Mama,  mama,  come  and  see  ! 

Come  and  see  the  feathers,  mama, 
Soft  and  white  as  they  can  be  !  " 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies.  209 

Standing  then  a  moment,  pondering 
As  it  were,  whence  came  the  snow, 

Little  face  so  wise  and  thoughtful, 
Mabel  cried  :   "  Oh,  now  I  know, 

"  There  are  lots  of  eider  ducklets 
Up  in  Heaven,  above  the  blue, 
And  they're  dropping  off  their  feathers, — 

And  such  downy  feathers,  too  ! 

» 

"  See  them  frolic  with  each  other  ; 
See  them  kiss  as  fast  they  fly  ; 
See  them  make  believe  they're  going  to, 
Then  go  gayly  flitting  by. 

"  See  them,  on  the  Spruce  and  Balsam, 
Pile  up  little  soft,  fat  hands  ; 
See  their  many  plump,  white  cushions  ; 
See  them  wave  their  fairy  wands. 

"  See  the  showers  of  flying  feathers 
Whisking  'round  in  merry  moods  ; 
See,  the  telegraph  their  perch  is, — 
Oh,  I'm  sure  they're  almost  birds  !  " 


210 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


Now  she  fancies  she  can  hear 
them 
Whisper   of  their   ducklet 
birth  ;— 
Hear    their    soft    and   wean-y 
quacklings, 
As  they  tumble  down  to  earth. 

Now  she  listens  for  the  jingle 
Of  the  sleigh-bells  they  will 
bring  ; 

Now  she  sees  the  flying  horses, 
Prancing  gayly  at  their  ring. 


Lovely  are  these  fleecy  feathers, 
Dainty  in  each  rare  device  ; 

All  unlike  our  ducklet  feathers, — 
White  and  soft,  but  cold  as  ice. 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


*  ^f  ^  :i 


"xmrn. 


if-  m?  :  ;:;#-  * 


211 


L<SZ 


$:y&m 


Yet  they  cover,  warmly  cover 

Mother  Earth  so  bleak  and  brown  ; 

Cover  her  with  feathery  mantles, 
Comforters  of  eider- down. 


212 


Mother   Truth's  Melodies. 


THE  LADDIE-  AND  LASSIE-BIRDS. 


L,\;t 


Come  sit  with  me  in  the  green-wood  bower, 
While  I  sing  you  a  song  of  love  ; — 
'Tis  the  song  of  the  birds 
In  the  deep,  wild  woods, 
'Tis  the  song  of  the  sweet  ring-dove. 


The  laddie-bird  says,  "  I  have  come  to  woo  ;  " — 
And  the  lassie-bird,  "  Ah  !  coo,  coo,  coo,  coo." 


Mother   Truth 's  Melodies.  213 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  With  a  hope  to  win," — 
And  the  lassie-bird,  "  Coo,  coo,  that  is  no  sin." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  Together  we'll  dwell," 
And  the  lassie-bird  says,  "  In  the  Linden  dell." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  And  build  our  nest," 

And  the  lassie-bird  says,  "  In  the  tree  to  the  West." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  And  raise  our  brood," 
And  the  lassie-bird  says,  "  In  the  sweet  solitude." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  Till  they're  fit  to  fly," 
And  the  lassie-bird,  "  Yes,  to  the  blue,  blue  sky." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  Let  us  hie  away  ;  " — 
And  the  lassie-bird,  "  Yes,  and  begin  to-day." 

The  laddie-bird  says,  "  I  will  take  this  moss," — 
And  the  lassie-bird  says,  "  And  I,  this  floss." 


214 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


The  laddie  bird  says, 

"And      we  '11    love    so 
true  ;  " 

And  the  lassie-bird, 

"  Ah,  yes,  coo,  coo,  coo." 

Tis   the   old-new    song   that   the 
birds  have  sung, 
Aye,  the  birds  of  every  race, 
Since  the  world  was  planned, 
And  came  forth  from  the  hand 
Of  the  Maker,  aglow  with  grace. 


'Tis  the  song  they  will  sing  till  time  is  o'er, — 
Tis  the  stream  that  from  Paradise  gushed  ; 


Mother    Truth's  Melodies. 


215 


And  the  music  that  flows 
When  the  love-light  glows, 
Will  never,  no,  never  be  hushed. 


